Carol Ofori chats to Embeth Davidtz ahead of her debut movie at DIFF
Acclaimed American-South African director, writer, producer and actress, Embeth Davidtz is coming to Mzansi to promote her directorial/screenwriting debut movie 'Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight' at the Durban International Film Festival.
The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) is underway until 27 July.
DIFF, presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, is widely regarded as one of the leading film festivals in Africa.
It was founded in 1979 and is the oldest and largest film festival in Southern Africa. "It presents over 100 screenings, all premieres in this region. The festival also offers screenings in township areas where cinemas do not exist," reads the DIFF website.
This year, American-South African director, writer, producer, and actress Embeth Davidtz, who has an illustrious career spanning decades in film and television, will make her directorial and screenwriting debut with the movie 'Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight'. The film is based on Alexandra Fuller’s New York Times Best-Selling memoir of the same name.
Many will remember Davidtz from her many roles, specifically Ms. Honey from Matilda.
Check out the trailer below from YouTube.
"The film, in which Davidtz also stars, thrusts us into the tumultuous world of eight-year-old Bobo, whose childhood unfolds on her family’s Rhodesian (Zimbabwe) farm as the Bush War rages to its bitter end. Set against the backdrop of the 1980s political inferno, through Bobo’s eyes, we witness the family’s unbreakable bond with Rhodesia’s soil and the deep, festering scars of a war that reshapes both land and soul," a synopsis of the film reads.
The film is personal to Davidtz, who drew inspiration from her upbringing in apartheid South Africa. From the age of eight to 25, she lived in South Africa. Her family is still here, and her brother lives in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Davidtz brings an authentic perspective to the film, using the viewpoint of a young girl to depict the harsh realities of growing up amidst familial strife and the ongoing racial conflict.
"This transition to filmmaking marks a new chapter for Davidtz, who leverages her extensive on-set experience in her dual roles as screenwriter and director for this eagerly awaited feature,"
Watch Davidtz talk a little about the film, courtesy of Instagram.
Davidtz, born in Lafayette, Indiana, and raised in South Africa, studied drama and English literature at Rhodes University in Grahamstown.
She began acting on the South African stage before transitioning to film and television. During her earlier years, she worked with acclaimed directors such as Steven Spielberg in 'Schindler's List', where she delivered a memorable debut performance as ‘Helen Hirsch’.
She also collaborated with Sam Raimi on 'Army of Darkness' and Robert Altman in 'The Gingerbread Man'. In 'Bicentennial Man', she starred alongside Robin Williams under Chris Columbus's direction, portraying a dual role highlighting her versatility as an actress.
The movie is releasing this weekend at the Cine Centre in Suncoast.
