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Flatland

Panorama 2019
© Flatland Productions
Natalie’s wedding night ends up being a nightmare. First, the women of the family put the screws on, and then ‘no’ in the marriage bed suddenly doesn’t mean no anymore. Natalie hides in a barn, a shot is fired and she flees. First on horseback, then by car across country with her pregnant friend Poppie in tow. Policewoman Beauty Cuba is soon hot on their heels. She’s trying to solve a murder case but a phone call throws her back into the past.
Director Jenna Bass cleverly weaves the stories of three women into an unusual, fast-paced road movie. The film’s lush imagery takes us on a journey through the sun-drenched hinterland of a divided country. Part police thriller, part emancipation story and part social drama, Bass’ film once again buries the myth of South Africa’s ‘rainbow nation’ where skin colour, gender and social status actually continue to play an important role. While private melodramas spool out in the TV soaps that are on in the background, a very real story of female self-empowerment and solidarity unfolds.
by Jenna Bass
with Faith Baloyi, Nicole Fortuin, Izel Bezuidenhout, De Klerk Oelofse, Eric Nobbs, Brendon Daniels, Clayton Evertson, Albert Pretorius, Kim Goncalves, Maurice Carpede South Africa / Luxembourg / Germany 2019 Afrikaans, English 117’ Colour World premiere

With

  • Faith Baloyi (Beauty Cuba)
  • Nicole Fortuin (Natalie Jonkers)
  • Izel Bezuidenhout (Poppie Van Niekerk)
  • De Klerk Oelofse (Bakkies Bezuidenhout)
  • Eric Nobbs (Jaap Bezuidenhout)
  • Brendon Daniels (Billy Duiker)
  • Clayton Evertson (Branko)
  • Albert Pretorius (Theunis)
  • Kim Goncalves (Sanie Van Niekerk)
  • Maurice Carpede (Reverend Salmon)

Crew

Written and Directed by Jenna Bass
Cinematography Sarah Cunningham
Editing Jacques De Villiers
Music Bao-Tran Tran
Sound Design James Olivier
Sound Jade Hill
Production Design Sara Hartinger
Costumes Chantell Lungiswa Joe
Make-Up Babalwa Djieutcheu
Casting Belinda Kruger
Assistant Director Cathy Poole
Production Manager Valentia Fisher
Producers David Horler, Désirée Nosbusch, Alexandra Hoesdorff, Roshanak Behesht Nedjad
Executive Producer Karen Horler
Co-Producer Titus Kreyenberg
Co-Production unafilm Köln

World Sales

The Match Factory

http://www.the-match-factory.com http://www.the-match-factory.com

Produced by

Proper Film

http://www.properfilm.com/ http://www.properfilm.com/

Deal Productions

http://www.dealproductions.com/ http://www.dealproductions.com/

IGC Films

http://www.ingoodcompany.de http://www.ingoodcompany.de

Photos

Press Conference

Jenna Bass

© Shaun Swingler

Born in London, UK in 1986, she grew up in South Africa where she now lives. She is a filmmaker who graduated from the AFDA Film School in Cape Town. Her short film The Tunnel screened at the 2010 Berlinale, her debut feature Love the One You Love was presented at numerous international festivals. High Fantasy premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017 and screened in Generation in 2018. Together with Wanuri Kahiu, she co-wrote the coming-of-age romance Rafiki which premiered in Cannes in 2018.

Filmography

2010 The Tunnel; short film, Berlinale Shorts 2014 Love the One You Love 2017 High Fantasy; Generation

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2019