South Africa / 1994 / 26mins / Docudrama, History / English

Sol Plaatje was a politician, novelist, historian, musician, translator of Shakespeare into vernacular language, and founder member of what was to become the African National Congress. In 1924, a visionary South African, Sol Plaatje, set out to bring the wonders of cinema to the community. Brandishing a few educational 16mm films under his arm, Plaatje arrives in a dusty, Blacks-only township in the Western Transvaal. He is looking for a venue which can be set up as a bioscope. Things do not seem promising, but Plaatje is first befriended by a helpful young boy. And then, despite prevailing apartheid obstacles, a room is found. The township community is excited and set to be overawed by the new celluloid world about to unfold before them.

Lance Gewer

Lance Gewer is an internationally recognized award winning filmmaker and cinematographer who has worked in the field for 28 years. He photographed Tsotsi (Directed by Gavin Hood – Oscar for Best Foreign Film 2006, Peoples and Critics Award Toronto Film Festival), Beat the Drum (27 International Awards), Master Harold and the Boys (with Freddy Highmore and Ving Rhames), Otelo Burning (over 70 film festivals internationally), Flight of the Storks (Directed by Jan Kounen with Ruttgaer Hauer), Spud and Spud 2 (with Troy Sivan and John Cleese), Elelwani, Jozi, and others. Lance just completed production of Kite, with Samuel. L. Jackson. He has filmed international feature documentaries, docu-dramas and dramas. He also directed and produced several short fiction and non-fiction films, and has lectured extensively over the last 20 years. Learn More