New Film Lifts the Veil on SA’s Sexual Shenanigans.
In the local world of blessers, wealthy, middle-aged men lavish gifts and money on young women in return for companionship and more. But what happens when it all goes wrong?
Sexy new comedy Blessers, a topical and very funny look at the naughty lifestyles of Mzansi’s elite, is directed by Rea Rangaka and executive produced by entertainment entrepreneur Tbo Touch. The film stars Kenneth Nkosi in the role of Jacob Zulu, a business mogul who loves life and loves his family. But Jacob is lonely because his wife Michelle, played by Sonia Mbele withholds her affection and his daughter Natasha by Six Nyamane, is a demanding brat.
Jacob was drawn to Michelle, a businesswoman who comes from a wealthy family, because she is smart and sophisticated, but she’s also distant and he feels isolated. When a colleague convinces him to get involved in the blessers world, Jacob decides to put his money to good use and find young women he can ‘bless’.
But if you are a blesser, he points out, just remember that you are never in the selfies – those who are well trained know that the glamorous holiday pics are all about the girl.
Like Jacob, a blesser is usually a powerful businessman, who is either married, or has no desire for conventional dating, and he has lots of cash to spare. The blessee, meanwhile, is normally an attractive younger woman who can’t afford her luxury lifestyle.
The couple will usually establish a financial agreement early on. Some blessees ask for a monthly allowance, while other get ‘expenses’ in the form of overseas holidays and shopping sprees. A growing number of blessees are university students who get their blessers to pay their fees. They all demand the most expensive champagne and will drink it by the gallon, even if it gives them heartburn.
Blessees sometimes get bad press, because of the financial relationship with blessers, but the key difference between them and escorts is that they have a regular arrangement and usually get together several times a month. The arrangements are often mutually beneficial relationships with someone the women consider a friend.
Blessers opens in cinemas nationwide on 25 October and is distributed by Indigenous Film Distribution.