The New York African Film Festival is currently on the go in the Big Apple and South Africa is well represented. Over a quarter of a century ago, Mahen Bonetti, decided to help bring African stories to New York and the world, she has achieved that goal, the festival now boasts the screening of 66 films from 25 countries.
Running with the theme “25 Years of the New York African Film Festival,” the event is not only paying homage to the older trail blazing film makers of African cinema, it is also recognizing and applauding the influx of a talented and new generation of African story tellers. The festival is also celebrating the 100th birthday of the iconic Nelson Mandela with a slew of films from South Africa.
Five short films from South Africa were showcased, these included The Suit starring Atandwa Kani. Written by famed investigative journalist Can Themba back in 1963, it was adapted and brought to life as a play at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg in 1994. Fast forward to 2016 where it was adapted once again, but this time for the big screen, by director Jarryd Coetsee.
Set against the backdrop of Sophiatown in the 1950s apartheid era, the flim centres around Philemon, played by Athandwa, discovering his wife’s affair and then forcing her to treat the suit her lover left behind as a person. However, the flim not only explores the consequences of an extramarital affair, it also serves as a harrowing comment on the brutal effects of the forced removals of the time. It was originally banned by the National Party government when it was first published, it is now often prescribed as a high school set work book. The short film version of The Suit has gone on to win numerous awards.
In speaking about his debut film Coetsee has said that its themes of ‘personal space’ and ‘humiliation’ offer a more emotional understanding of the ‘profound trauma’ experienced by millions of South Africans under apartheid rule.
Watch the trailer right here :
