Newcastle’s very own love story hits the silver screen
The Newcastle couple's story became a movie after Mrs de Klerk took part in the Huisgenoot's birthday competition.
NEWCASTLE – When one thinks of a romantic comedy movie, Hollywood usually comes to mind.
However, this was not the case on Saturday night with the premiere of Vir die Voëls.
The South African based movie is about Sampie and Irma de Klerk’s love, their marriage and everything in-between.
See: Premiere of Vir die Voëls (PICS)
The Newcastle couple’s story became a movie after Mrs de Klerk took part in the Huisgenoot’s birthday competition.
“The competition took part in 2014, when Huisgenoot turned 100 years old.They ran a competition where couples were asked to write a story about their love lives, from when they met until they got married,” she said.
Mrs de Klerk said she and her husband initially were unaware of the competition.
“My mother told me about it, and I contemplated about entering, and 10 days before the cut-off date, February 14, 2015, I wrote our story and entered it.”
Not expecting anything to come of her entry, Mr and Mrs de Klerk were thrilled to learn their story was chosen.
The process of turning it into a film started, and the dynamic of their love life was put onto the silver screen for all to see.
During the making of the movie, the couple met scores of different people who added value to their lives.
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“We met a lot of South African stars, saw how movies were made and the movie people are really wonderful people who work extremely hard. We have made a lot of new friends.”
However, the couple are determined to remain as grounded as possible in spite of their newly-found celebrity status.
Mr de Klerk is a fitter and turner by trade, and he has one plan for the future.
“We intend to stay in Newcastle,” he laughed.
Mrs de Klerk is a bookkeeper and as she says, a closet writer.
“Writing our story was a test run, to see if I should consider writing full-time. I have been approached to write a book and write short stories,” she said.
As their movie takes the South African cinematic world by storm, the couple agree that their love for each other is as steadfast now as when they got married 33 years ago.
After the movie premiered at Victorian Theatres on Saturday evening, Mr and Mrs de Klerk mingled with movie goers at a cheese and wine function, and shared precious memories with guests.
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