Cult Movie: “Of Good Report” with Director Jahmil XT Qubeka in Attendance, Wednesday, 11 June 2014, 20h00, Hackesche Höfe Kino

23. May 2014

Events, Films, Colonialism & Decolonisation

With director Jahmil Qubeka in attendance, AfricAvenir invites you to the screening of the multi awards winning South African thriller „Of Good Report“ (Xhosa/Sotho/English with English Subtitles) at Hackesche Höfe Kino, on Wednesday, 11 June 2014 at 20h00. Hailed as “South Africa’s Hitchcock”, filmmaker Jahmil XT Qubeka helms his own original screenplay, “Of Good Report”, a hard-hitting and evocative narrative about a schoolteacher, and social misfit, whose illicit affair with one of his pupils spirals into an abyss of obsession and shameful lust. Of Good Report was recently not only awarded best film at the South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA), but also won the best director, best script, best main actor (Mothusi Magano) and supporting actor (Tshamano Sebe und Tina Jaxa) categories. And it is now nominated in 13 categories for the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).

“Stylish and surreal … an edge-of-the-seat thriller.” The Guardian

“the most intriguing, surprising and intelligent pieces of cinema to come out of South Africa in decades.” Times Live

The screening will be followed by an open discussion with director Jahmil XT Qubeka and by a small reception in the cinema foyer.

In co-operation with Africiné, SEV Magazin, Club der Freunde von RFI, Berlin Poche, rendez-vous-cine.de, Exberliner, radio multicult.fm, Art Labour Archives, Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland (ISD), Berlinda, Zentrum Moderner Orient, Contemporary & and Planète Métis.

Age: 16 years and older!

Synopsis
Introverted and seemingly gentle high school teacher Parker Sithole has a quiet passion for literature and is presented to a new school as a man "of good report". In a local bar Parker meets a mesmerizing young woman and falls for her – but the next day she walks into his classroom and he realizes that the blossoming love which has brought joy into his world is forbidden. Parker develops and obsession with his vivacious pupil and she returns his affections until their love story reaches a tragic end. The film is an intense and profoundly executed thriller following this deeply disturbed teacher who is externally "of good report" and yet hiding a grisly murder which preys on his mind as a local policewoman hunts him, coming closer and closer to the awful truth…

Press Reviews
“… a psycho romance… superbly exciting… a fine, assured thrilling, and complicated piece of South African cinema.. Turn away if you’re squeamish about details.” Kavish Chetty, Mahala

“Rather it’s one of the most intriguing, surprising and intelligent pieces of cinema to come out of South Africa in decades. Of Good Report shines a ray of hopeful light for filmmakers who feel trapped by the belief that the only way to make films is to conform to the standards and interference of those who hold the purse strings.” Times Live

“Set in a rural town that reeks of the economically precarious working poor’s despair, “Of Good Report” dives into the rarely visited moral worlds of these impoverished communities, burrowing into their dark recesses and exploring their complex social webs. In this forgotten place, a place rife with vice, greed, loneliness, and the fear of sinking further into poverty, a man can get away with anything — including a gruesome murder. TIFF

"What makes Of Good Report a brilliant film is not only the fact that Qubeka pushed it to unimaginable height with his directorial prowess but also that he managed to address numerous issues that plague many African countries." Faith Haushona-Kavamba, Windhoek Observer

Director: Jahmil XT Qubeka
Award-Winning Filmmaker and Screenwriter Jahmil X.T. Qubeka has a decade long career spanning an entire spectrum of filmmaking disciplines. Most notably, his documentary and feature film work has enjoyed screenings at various prestigious international film festivals including Rotterdam Film Festival, Pusan International Film Festival (Korea), Dubai Film Festival, Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival, Open Doek (Warsaw), Stolkholm Film Festival amongst others. In 2005 an Aids documentary he directed for Sesame Street won the prestigious Peabody Award in America for best actuality programing. Jahmil was the official guest of the French Institute at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival’ Marche Du Film. At the event he screened an esoteric martial arts fantasy film he co-wrote and co-directed, (Shogun Khumalo is Dying! Official Selection DIFF 2006). In 2007 he produced and co-wrote the low -budget feature film, uMalusi (official Selection DIFF 2008). The film was released theatrically in South Africa by the Ster-Kinekor group.

Other Documentary titles include: ‘Reporting Live from The Concrete Jungle’ – 2000, ‘Intifada Comes to WSSD’- 2001, ‘Qula Kwedini: A Rite of Passage’ – 2002, ‘The Italian Co-Production, Zulu Meets Jazz – 2005. He also directed episodes of various television Drama series, including Mtunzini. Com as well as the South African hit youth soapie, Tshisa 2.

In 2009 Jahmil made his feature film directorial debut with the stylish noirs, A Small Town Called Descent. Also written and shot by him, the ‘detective’ drama features a plethora of South Africa’ top acting talent including the likes of Fana Mokoena (Hotel Rwanda) and Vusi Kunene (Cry The Beloved Country). The ensemble cast also includes veteran Hollywood character actor, John Savage (The Deer Hunter, Salvador). The film recently won the Programmer’ Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles 2012. Jahmil has also been a feature film jury member at two prestigious film festivals, namely the Durban International Film Festival in Durban as well as the Cairo International Children’s Film Festival. A dedicated advocate of African Filmmaking, Jahmil continues to make independent and engaging work.

Awards/Selections n

(Banned) Opening Film, Durban International Film Festival, 2013
“Artistic Bravery” award, newly created award in honour of Qubeka’s film, at Durban International Film Festival, 2013
Opening Film and Winner Best Film, 3rd Africa International Film Festival, Calabar, Nigeria, 2013
Opening Film, Pan African Film Festival, Los Angeles, USA, 2014
Official Competition, 57th BFI London Film Festival, 2013
Chicago International Film Festival, 2013
Toronto International Film Festival, 2013
Dubai International Film Festival, 2013
Stockholm International Film Festival, 2013

nOf Good Report
Jahmil XT Qubeka, South Africa, 2013, Xhosa, Sotho, English with English Subtitles, 109 min
With: Mothusi Magano, Petronella Tshuma, Thobi Mkhwanazi, Nomhlé Nkyonyeni
Produced by: Michael Auret and Luzuko Dilima

Wednesday, 11 June 2014
20h00
Entrance: 7,50 Euro
Discount: Berlin Pass, Gilde Pass, Heavy User Card, 5/10 Tickets Cards can be used by two people

Tickets & Information
030/ 283 4603

Hackesche Höfe Kino
Rosenthalerstr. 40/41
10187 Berlin
S Hackescher Markt
U Weinmeisterstraße

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