DIS EK, ANNA TO DEBUT AT DIFF 2015

Palama Productions will debut their latest feature film Dis ek, Anna at the Durban International Film Festival this year.  Based on the fictionalised autobiographical best-sellers Dis ek, Anna and Die Staat teen Anna Bruwer by Anchien Troskie, written under the pseudonym Elbie Lötter, and adapted for screen by Tertius Kapp, the film is produced by Niel van Deventer (Suurlemoen, Anderkant Gister) and directed by Sara Blecher (Ayanda, Otelo Burning). 

The film is a harrowing, but ultimately uplifting story of a young woman who finds the strength to pick up the pieces of her shattered world and forge a new life.  Anna Bruwer is sexually abused by her stepfather over a period of 8 years.  Unable confide in anyone, she is rendered voiceless and inhabits a shadow world of shame, foreboding and secrecy, until she is finally able to break free from her tormentor.

Dis ek, Anna stars Charlenè Brouwer (Vrou Soek Boer, Erfsondes, Binnelanders) in the title role with Marius Weyers (Faan se Trein, Die Wonderwerker), Nicola Hanekom (Hollywood in My Huis, Faan se Trein), Izel Bezuidenhout (Agent 2000), Morné Visser (Long Walk to Freedom, Skoonheid), Eduan van Jaarsveldt (Fanie Fourie’s Lobola,Long Walk to Freedom) and Drikus Volschenk (Long Walk to Freedom, Skoonheid).  Rounding out the cast is Dawid Minnaar, Elize Cawood, Hykie Berg, Kara van der Merwe and Fezile Mpela.

“Bringing this film to screen has been a labour of love,” says producer Niel van Deventer.  “It is very important to me to find projects that have the potential to become films that transcend the borders of our language and country.  Anna is certainly such a story.”

“We are thrilled to have Dis ek, Anna as part of our slate of films for 2015.  It is a remarkable film that raises the bar in terms of quality and performance,” says Driki van Zyl, General Manager: Times Media Films. “

Times Media Films will release Dis ek, Anna limited release on 18 September before the official opening at cinemas nationally on 23 October 2015.

TIMES MEDIA FILMS INITIATE PROCESS WITH FPB TO REVIEW DIS EK, ANNA CLASSIFICATION

Times Media Films, distributor of the Afrikaans language feature film, Dis ek, Anna has initiated the process with the Film Publication Board (FPB) to review the earlier classification imposed on the film.  This was the first viewing by the FPB and geared towards clearing the film for screening at the Durban International Film Festival in July.  The film was given an 18L (SV) classification. 

The final music score and sync on the film has now been completed as well as the addition of information cards to the film’s end credits and the FPB has requested a second classification session of the final version of the film.  In early September, a new classification committee will watch the film and make its recommendations. 

Dis ek, Anna is produced by Niel van Deventer of Palama Productions, helmed by Sara Blecher and stars Charlené Brouwer in the title role, along with Marius Weyers, Nicola Hanekom, newcomer Izel Bezuidenhout as the young Anna, Morné Visser, Eduan van Jaarsveldt, Drikus Volschenk, Ilse Klink, Elton Andrew, Hykie Berg and Elize Cawood. 

The film is based on the best-selling fictionalised autobiographical novels Ek, Anna and Die Staat teen Anna Bruwer by Anchien Troskie written under the pseudonym Elbie Lötter and describes the sexual abuse suffered by young Anna Bruwer at the hands of her stepfather from the age of 12.  While Blecher has handled the rape scenes with great sensitivity, she does not shy away from showing the impact that the abuse has on the young Anna.  “The whole point of the film is expose the damage that sexual abuse causes.  I think that it is important that this film be made accessible to 16 year olds, because they are a vulnerable age group and we have to let them know that they are not alone and they do not need to endure abuse”, says Blecher.

Van Deventer’s primary reason for making the film was to address the rampant abuse suffered by children in South Africa and offer hope to victims.  “This is a taboo subject that nobody wants to talk about, but we cannot simply ignore the situation while more and more girls and boys are abused, often by people known to them.  If this film can make a difference to just one victim or create a greater awareness of sexual abuse, we would have succeeded”.

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