Izulu Lami, titled My Secret Sky in English, is a 2008 South African film made in the Zulu language. It was directed by Madoda Ncayiyana. It follows the story of two children who travel to the city of Durban and become street kids after their mother dies.
| Izulu lami / My Secret Sky | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Madoda Ncayiyana |
| Screenplay by | Madoda Ncayiyana Julie Frederikse |
| Produced by | DV8 Films Vuleka Productions |
| Starring | Sobahle Mkhabase Sibonelo Malinga Tshepang Mohlomi Sanele Ndawo Sizwe Xaba Israel Makoe |
| Cinematography | Mike Downie |
| Edited by | Kosta Kalarytis |
| Music by | Sazi Dlamini |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | South Africa |
| Language | Zulu |
Synopsis
editTen-year-old Thembi and her eight-year-old brother, Khwezi, lose their mother. Their aunt is supposed to take care of them, but once she's sold the few things they have, she disappears. The children are left with nothing but a traditional Zulu mat made by their mother before she died.[1] Taking their destiny in her hands, Thembi convinces her brother that they should go to the big city of Durban. But once they arrive, they find themselves adrift in a terrifying metropolis.[2] The very essence of Thembi and Kwezi's bonds are threatened as the city becomes a monster that threatens to completely overwhelm and defeat them.
Cast
edit- Sobahle Mkhabas as Thembi
- Sibonelo Malinga as Khwezi
- Tshepang Mohlomi as "Chili-Bite"
Production
editThe film is based on an earlier short film, co-directed by Ncayiyana and Ouida Smit, made in 2001, The Sky in Her Eyes. This film won the Djibril Diop Mambety Prize for best African short film at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.[3]
Release
editIn December 2008, the film premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival, opening the inaugural Asia Africa section.[4]
The film was released internationally in 2009 under the title My Secret Sky.[5][3]
Awards
edit- December 2008: Nominated, Muhr AsiaAfrica Award at the Dubai International Film Festival[6]
- April 2009: Winner, Dikalo Prize for best feature film at the International Pan-African Film Festival (Festival International du Film Panafricain) in Cannes[3][a]
- 2009: Winner, Silver Crow Pheasant Award for best director, Kerala International Film Festival
- 2010: Winner, SAFTA Golden Horn for Best Achievement in Production Design - Feature Film (Simon Joyner) at the South African Film and Television Awards[6]
- 2010: Nominee at SAFTA for various other awards, including Best Feature[6]
- 2011: Sobahle Mkhabas, Sibonelo Malinga, and Tshepang Mohlomi, co-winners of Best Child Actor at the Africa Movie Academy Awards[6]
Footnotes
editReferences
edit- ^ Izulu Lami - My Secret Sky Archived 16 December 2024 at archive.today, Channel24, Shaheema Barodien, 19 August 2009
- ^ Another touch of heaven for local cinema Archived 31 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Times Live, 01 September 2009
- ^ a b c "Durban á la Dickens". The Mail & Guardian. 21 August 2009. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ Landreth, Jonathan (12 December 2008). "Dubai film festival fetes Asian, African films". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ "Izulu Lami (My Secret Sky)". Kiln Theatre. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Izulu lami". IMDb. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ "About". Festival International du Film Panafricain.
- ^ "AFDA alumni share Best Actor Award at International Pan African Film Festival in Cannes". AFDA. 28 October 2022. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
Further reading
edit- Izulu Lami, Spling
External links
edit- Izulu Lami at IMDb
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