The Sunday News
Peter Matika, Senior Life Reporter
HOT off the trails of their 2016 National Arts Merit Award (Nama) nomination this February, Bulawayo-based production studio rEBEL fILM pRODUCTIONS has once again partnered with Early Entertainment to produce a star-studded feature length movie called “The Lost Letter” set to premiere in Bulawayo’s only surviving cinema Elite 400 in May.
The premier will be held on 13 May, where the directors of the film say they will portray the Africa Hollywood never shows.
The movie, which was written and directed by award-winning animator Mhle Nzima and co-produced by himself and Elliot Moyo is a family friendly love story filled with intense drama and excitement unlike any Bulawayo has ever seen before.
“The story follows Sara, a happily married young woman who along with her husband Sam and daughter Linda moves back into the house she grew up in. There she finds a letter she never got that was sent to her seven years ago by her long lost first love Michael who has been waiting for her return to him based on a promise they made to each other in the past.
‘‘This leads to Sara being plagued by guilt for breaking the promise which Michael held on to for so long and living a happy life while he suffers in pain. The movie cuts right to the core of the human psyche, exploring the age-old debate of friendship between exes. Is it possible without crossing the line and can a marriage survive this “friendship” between said exes,” reads the movie synopsis.
The Lost Letter was shot in Bulawayo primarily in English with a blend of English-subtitled Ndebele, as demanded by viewers.
“It was written to reflect the inner workings of the human psyche as it dealt with controversial universal themes such as friendship between exes, friendship between guys and girls, friend zoning, unrequited love, unresolved love, broken vows, and letting go of the past among others, all through the eyes of modern Zimbabwean youths,” said Mhle.
Given Hollywood’s tendency to only tell African stories about political instability, war, poverty, strife and suffering, Mhle said he felt it was up to us as Africans to tell the other side of our stories.
“I wanted to tell a story reflecting life through the eyes of the average Zimbabwean in which we are so much more than the problems faced by our country and continent.
‘We’re also actual people with love stories and relationship problems which are completely unrelated to all those negative stereotypical portrayals of Africa. We have Facebook, we have houses and cars. We don’t all live in the wild, wearing loin cloths and hunting deers but we have modern cities and lifestyles as well. This film wanted to show the beauty of modern Zimbabwean life and an inspiring story about the complications of love felt like the perfect avenue to follow which everyone would be able to relate to,” he said.
The Lost Letter is an emotional rollercoaster ride, which was brought to life by an incredibly talented star-studded cast including the Nama-nominated actress Donna N as Sara, a happily married mother struggling with her guilt; Exult Ncube as Sam, her loving husband who would do anything to make her happy, Terrence Faizil as Michael, Sara’s long lost first love who has been waiting for her for seven years, Annie Maliki as Nono, Michael’s best friend with a secret crush on him, and Lady Tshawe as Nyasha, Sara’s best friend who would stand by her through anything. All of them put on their best performances to date, reflecting their respective characters in the script right to the letter and making the movie’s 103 min runtime worth every moment of dramatic excellence.
Completely self-funded by rEBEL fILM pRODUCTIONS and Early Entertainment, the movie was also produced with support from the Zimbabwe Academy of Music.
“Production began in August 2016 with the scripting and casting of the actors, and shooting went underway in September through October 2016 over the course of almost four weeks. The film then went into post production and was finally completed in February 2017 whereby preparations for the official premiere began as did the final leg of promotion.
“The film comes at a time when the Bulawayo cinema scene is under threat of completely dying with only one cinema left running in the entire city, Elite 400. As such, the producers chose this very place as the venue of the movie’s premiere in efforts to make a difference while launching their movie by bring the spotlight onto a dying sector. While the Harare cinema scene keeps advancing with 3D cinemas now being the new craze, Bulawayo is down to only one 2D cinema, leaving the younger generation dangerously close to never having the cinema experience at all. “The Lost Letter” seeks to change that by being as loud and aggressive as possible in its marketing, attracting people of all ages and reminding them of the beauty and wonder of cinema,” added Mhle.
He said the movie sought to push the standards to new heights by showing the world that quality movies can be made in Bulawayo with amazing acting, production value and music, and not just for show either, but for commercial success.
“The film industry is a profit making business after all, and the people involved in the making of these films all need to make a living out of this art. “The Lost Letter” is thus here to facilitate just that by becoming a model by which future productions can thrive. With the advent of the digital age and the expansion of distribution channels from DStv, to the upcoming ZIM DIGITAL channels, DVDs and the internet “The Lost Letter” will go beyond just the scope of cinema release and make waves on the small screen as well. The movie will not be a one-hit wonder as is often the case with Bulawayo productions,” said Mhle.
@peterkmatika
