Jaci (Anel Alexander) and JP (Nico Panagio) return, their once fairy-tale romance now tested by real-world demands. As personal aspirations clash and family expectations loom, the pair must navigate what “happily ever after” truly demands.

Image Caption: JP and Jaci, played by Nico Panagio and Anel Alexander in Semi-Soeter, launch on 20 June 2025

Love, Lies, And Legacy

Several years into their marriage, Jaci and JP appear to have it all. Yet, behind the polished exterior simmers growing tension. The expectation to start a family weighs heavily, amplified by well-meaning inquiries and unspoken pressures neither is fully prepared to confront.

When a lucrative business opportunity lands in their laps, it seems their dreams are finally aligning — until JP’s ruthless former school rival Joubert (Neels van Jaarsveld) resurfaces, determined to claim both the deal and his place at the top.

A Scheme To Outshine The Competition

With everything on the line, Jaci, JP, and their loyal business partners, Hertjie (Louw Venter) and Karla (Sandra Vaughn), craft an elaborate scheme to outwit their competition. What begins as a harmless lie swiftly unravels, exposing insecurities and forcing the couple to confront the hard truths of love, ambition, and identity.

More Than Just A Sequel

Co-written by Anel Alexander and Sandra Vaughn, and directed by Joshua Rous, Semi-Soeter is no simple follow-up. Picking up where the charm left off, the sequel brings added depth, sharper laughs, and high-stakes emotional drama. Familiar faces like Diaan Lawrenson as the blissfully quirky Chadrie and screen legend Hélène Truter as the razor-tongued Marietjie ensure that fans of the original will feel right at home while the story stakes out new, bolder ground.

Synopsis

The sequel to the 2012 hit Semi-Soet sees Jaci and JP battling not only external forces but the fragility within their own relationship. Career ambitions, family demands, and a web of well-intentioned deceptions force them to reevaluate what truly matters. Is their marriage built to last, or is it time to redefine their fairy tale?

Cast & Crew

Production Company: Scramble Productions
Writers: Anel Alexander, Sandra Vaughn
Director: Joshua Rous

Key Cast:

• Anel Alexander
• Nico Panagio
• Diaan Lawrenson
• Neels van Jaarsveld
• Louw Venter
• Sandra Vaughn
• Hélène Truter

The post Love Grows Up: Semi-Soeter Launches 20 June With A New Chapter Of Romance, Laughter, And Real Life appeared first on Stage and Screen.

Somtyds is ons nie daartoe in staat om ons omstandighede te verander nie. Dit verander ons…

Jeremia 31:15: “‘n Gekerm word op Rama gehoor, ‘n gehuil vol hartseer. Ragel treur oor haar kinders, sy wil haar nie laat troos nie want haar kinders is weg.”

Hierdie Bybelse vers het Sink skrywer, vervaardiger en regisseur Brett Michael Innes genoop om pen op papier te plaas. Sodoende het ‘n storie met verloop van tyd ontstaan met die manuskrip van sy tweede roman, Rachel Weeping. Innes het terselfdetyd aan die draaiboekverwerking van hierdie verhaal geskaaf waaruit Sink ten einde gebore is.

Die poging om Sink tot vollengte speelfilm te vervaardig, was uitgevoer met die hoë standaarde wat deesdae in die Afrikaanse Filmbedryf gestel word. Die rolverdeling spreek vanself, asook die kreatiewe span agter die skerms, wat meer gedoen het as om net bloot ‘n storie te vertel. Hierdie vorm van kuns waarin al die apsekte van film gebruik word, is op so ‘n wyse ingespan om ‘n vloedgolf van onontdekte emosies by die gehoor te ontketen.

Verstrengelde omstandighede en hewige verlies word in hierdie boeiende tragedie ontgin. Die drie hoofkarakters Rachel, Michelle en Chris, word met innerlike konflik gekonfronteer wat die gehoor met uitstekende toneelspel meesleur tot in ‘n wêreld van sy eie. Alhoewel die tempo van die film aanvanklik stadig voel, bou die gebeure op tot ‘n klimaks wat die teater omskep in ‘n vakuum en die gehoor laat snak na hul asems.

Die verlies van ‘n kind is ‘n netelige onderwerp. As ‘n enkelouer uit Mosambiek, herlei Rachel die bitterheid van haar bedekte wrok teenoor haar werkgewers met deernis oor aan die gehoor. Hierdie rol word skitterend gespeel deur bekroonde aktrise Shoki Mokgopa, van wie ek seker is ons nog heelwat gaan sien. Haar neutrale, maar veelseggende gesigsuitdrukkings word versterk deur effektiewe kamerawerk en boeiende stemmingmusiek. Mokgopa beeld haar karakter op so ‘n wyse uit, dat ek self wou uitreik na haar met egte bedoelings van vertroosting en empatie.

Anel Alexander se vertolking van Michelle, stel ‘n hoë standaard wat vir geen ander aktrise terug hoef te staan nie. As ‘n swanger vrou, probeer sy haar betrokkenheid by die dood van Rachel se kind verwerk. Die jukstaposisie tussen Michelle en Rachel se gevoelens teenoor mekaar word deurgaans polsend uitgebeeld. Hulle wil mekaar aanval maar weens ‘n wedersydse respek, word hierdie gevoelens nie uitgevoer nie.

Balade vir ‘n Enkeling en Modder en Bloed akteur, Jacques Bessinger, vertolk die rol van Chris met sy unieke sjarme.  Chris is Michelle se man – hy dien as bemiddelaar tussen haar en Rachel. Hy bevind homself in ‘n uitdagende posisie waar hy begrip teenoor beide dames moet hê. Dis juis hierdie situasie waarin hy hom bevind wat veroorsaak dat meer intrige tot die verhaal van Sink gevoeg word. Jy wil hom haat en tog kry jy hom jammer…

Wat meer tot die gehalte van hierdie film bydra, is die groot name in die bedryf wat hulle verskynsel in Sink gemaak het.  Stêrre soos Amalia Uys, Asante Mabuza, Vuyelwa Booi, Diaan Lawrenson, Sandra Vaughn, Corine du Toit, Hanli Rolfes, Leandie du Randt, Siyabonga Radebe, Mandi Baard, Sarahann Doherty du Plooy, Vera Ephraim en Kabomo Vilakazi, maak elkeen hulle verskysel op die silwerdoek.  Elke vertolking in hierdie produksie, verdien om genoem te word.

Hoewel dit ‘n unieke Suid-Afrikaanse storie is, is dit ook ‘n universele verhaal, soos Innes self sê. Elke kyker sal die teater met gemengde emosies verlaat. Die vervaardigers het noukeurig die subtiliteite van die storie oorgedra, sonder om die gehoor met ‘n lepel te voer en laat hulle dus tot hul eie gevolgtrekking kom. Heellaas is ek seker elke kyker, net soos ek, sal met ‘n baanbreker produksie vermaak word.

Sink is benoem vir nege toekennings by die Silwerskermfees in 2015 en het 5 daarvan gewen, insluitend beste draaiboek, beste redigering, beste klankbaan, beste kinematografie en beste aktrise vir Shoki Mokgapa. Hierdie jaar gaan die rolprent ‘n paar draaie by internasionale filmfeeste maak nadat dit aangekondig is dat Sink een van die amptelike keuses is vir die 40ste Atlanta-filmfees.

Sink begin landswyd draai in teaters op 18 Maart 2016.

The post Review: Sink appeared first on Stage and Screen.

SINK releasing theatrically in 2016

‘Sink’ tells the story of Rachel (Mokgapa), a Mozambican domestic worker living in Johannesburg, who is forced to make a life-changing decision after her daughter dies in a tragic accident while under the care of her employers (Alexander and Bessenger); return to poverty stricken Mozambique or continue working for the people responsible for the death of her child so that she can keep her home, her visa and continue to support her family. Things become even more complicated when she finds out that her employers are expecting their first child. The film deals with forgiveness and guilt and looks at how one tragic event impacts the lives of all the people involved.

The film is based on the English novel ‘Rachel Weeping’ by bestselling local author Brett Michael Innes (‘Die Verhaal van Racheltjie de Beer’) who has also written the screenplay for the film. The novel is currently available in leading book stores and has already been picked up for international publication and translation. Innes has directed ’Sink’, making it his debut film.

Sink is directed by Brett Michael Innes, and features Anel Alexander, Jacques Bessenger and Shoki Mokgapa

The film will be distributed by Times Media Films and will be released on the first quarter for 2016.

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