 |
HBO Films presents a watershed film for South Africa, and a film of many firsts.
Yesterday is the first international feature film ever shot in the Zulu
language, and is the first South African film to receive an Oscar®
nomination (in the category of Best Foreign Language Film). Equally
important, Yesterday was made with the support of Nelson Mandela and
the Nelson Mandela Foundation, marking an important new
commitment by Mandela (and South Africa) to attempt to erase the long-
standing stigma of AIDS in a country that has been ravaged by it,
primarily from lack of knowledge about the disease.
Set against the awesome, harsh landscapes of South Africa, Yesterday is
an eloquent, unsentimental film that quietly builds an overwhelming
emotional force. The film's title protagonist is a 30-year-old mother who
lives in Rooihoek, a remote village in South Africa's Zululand.
Yesterday's life is not easy; there's little money, no modern
conveniences, and her husband is away in Johannesburg working as a
miner. But she possesses a sunny nature, and takes great joy in her
seven-year-old daughter Beauty (Lihle Mvelase). The precarious
balance of Yesterday's life is threatened when she is diagnosed with
AIDS, and must journey afar to learn about and confront her illness.
Yesterday's primary driving force for survival is her daughter, who is a
year away from starting school. Yesterday herself never had the chance
to go to school, and as she faces her affliction she sets her sights on a
single goal: to be with Beauty on her first day of class, along with all the
other proud mothers of Rooihoek.
Yesterday is highlighted by a riveting title performance by Leleti
Khumalo, a South African actress who rose to stardom in 1985 when she
was cast as the lead character in the play Sarafina!, a role that enchanted
audiences in South Africa and on Broadway, where she was nominated
for a Tony Award for Best Actress. In 1987, Khumalo received an
NAACP Image Award for Best Stage Actress, and in 1991, together with
Whoopi Goldberg, she starred in the film version of Sarafina!, which
became the biggest film production to be released on the African
continent.
The writer and director of Yesterday is Darrell James Roodt, who has
directed some of the most acclaimed films to come from his native South
Africa, including "Place of Weeping", "Sarafina!" and "Cry, the Beloved Country."
Producer Anant Singh is South Africa's preeminent film producer,
having produced 58 films since 1984.
In a statement, Nelson Mandela noted, "The medium of film is one that effectively
mobilizes people. Yesterday shows the commitment of the private sector
to move beyond the conventional HIV/AIDS rhetoric. We are confident
that this will assist in spreading the message of prevention, caring for,
and supporting those infected and affected by the pandemic and, most
importantly, highlight the need to remove stigma and discrimination.
The script to the film Yesterday is truly inspiring, and we are delighted to
In addition to its Oscar® nomination, Yesterday was an official selection of
the 2004 Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival,
among other festivals around the world.
CAST: Leleti Khumalo (Yesterday), Lihle Mvelase (Beauty), Kenneth Kambule (John Khumalo), Harriet Lehabe (teacher), Camilla Walker (doctor).
CREDITS: Written and Directed by Darrell James Roodt; Produced by Anant Singh and Helena Spring; Executive Producers: Sudhir Pragjee and Sanjeev Singh.
|
|
|
 |
