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.

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Although the arrangement is nothing new, ‘blesser’ is a South African term for an older man who has multiple girlfriends he lavishes with gifts, in exchange for sex and companionship. In turn, the girlfriends post photos on social media of expensive shoes, clothes and piles of cash, tagging the pictures #blessed.

That’s the subject at the heart of the slick and hilarious new comedy ‘Blessers’, by actor and director Rea Rangaka, known for ‘Ode in Blood’ (2013), ‘For the Lovers Only’ (2012) and ‘iNumber Number’ (2017). ‘Blessers’ releases in cinemas on 25 October 2019.

The film stars award-winning actor and comedian Kenneth Nkosi (‘Skeem’, 2011; ‘Paradise Stop’ (2011); ‘District 9’ (2009) and ‘White Wedding’ (2009), as Jacob Mofokeng, a middle-aged businessman who has become accustomed to his routine, a life which includes his wife, Michelle (Sonia Mbele of ‘Generations’ fame), his daughter Natasha (Six Nyamane), his work and his fun.

As a powerful CEO, with a big house, a successful spouse, a family, and expensive recreational habits, Jacob feels like life will always be easy. Along with George, his colleague and partner-in-crime, the two dominate the boardroom as well as the bedroom but as it turns out, they do not quite control their homes. Caught knee-deep in the word of blessers, Jacob and his family are about to learn a few hard lessons and discover that they are perhaps not that #blessed.

Entrepreneur Thabo Molefe, better known as Tbo Touch, make his big screen debut in the movie. The Touch HD radio owner plays the role of flamboyant Mthakathi the Fixer, who lives in a R48 million penthouse. He throws extravagant parties where he introduces blessers to slay queens.

‘Blessers’ is written by Tbo Touch, Sasa Nqabeni and Kumaran Naidu. It’s produced by Masechaba Rose Molefe and Malebo Manamela.

“The film was the brainchild of Tbo Touch and Touch HD,” says Rangaka. “My role was to make it happen. It has an interesting way tonally, of dealing with some really dark material like the concept of blessers, cheating, and the sex trade, and making it palatable. We’ve seen and lived with the events on screen all around us. The film is ‘funny ha ha’, but even funnier as in ‘oh snap!’

‘Blessers’ will be released in cinemas nationwide and is distributed by Indigenous Film Distribution.

The post Blessers appeared first on Stage and Screen.