Locals co-write and direct romantic comedy
RANDBURG – Threat of war inspires Henk Pretorius to make 'Leading Lady' a good movie.
Two locals have contributed to the upcoming film Leading Lady in the most significant fashion. The romantic comedy will make its première in South Africa on 13 November. The plot involves an aspiring British actress who persuades a farmer from the Free State to prepare her for a role in a major film as an Afrikaans war heroine. In return, she undertakes to arrange and direct the annual concert at the Willemse farm.
Sonneglans resident Henk Pretorius directs and co-writes the film, and Robindale resident Tina Kruger co-writes the story. Pretorius said that he was in Tunisia while writing a draft of the film. At the time, there was a threat of war. Seeing soldiers marching outside his window, Pretorius decided that if this was to be his last script, he would write it well. He said that residents should watch the film because “it was written with a war outside my window and is ironically an incredibly feel-good film”.
Kruger said that the film is “an honest portrayal of boy meets girl in the wrong place at the wrong time, and how they have to fight for the sake of each other to… make it work.” She added that the film highlights important issues such as what it means to be Afrikaans or British, and how to bridge the gap between the cultures.
Pretorius wrote and directed the Bakgat series, South Africa’s first trilogy. He also co-wrote and directed Fanie Fourie’s Lobola, a film that won three audience awards. Kruger has contributed to the conceptualisation, scriptwriting and directing of TV programmes Thabang Thabong, Jakkals Jol and Lappies (Koowee).
