As a seasoned gamer of international films, I have witnessed a myriad of narratives that transcend borders and cultures, and it is with great anticipation that I welcome the South African entry for the 97th Academy Awards, Muneera Sallies’ music-themed drama “Old Righteous Blues”. The tale of unity through music, as portrayed by Ayden Croy in this film, resonates deeply with my own experiences in gaming – where cooperation and understanding are essential elements to achieve victory.
South Africa submits “Old Righteous Blues,” a musical drama by Muneera Sallies, as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards, managing to do so before the deadline.
The South African National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) revealed their selected film, chosen by the South African Academy Awards Selection Committee. “Sallies’ Drama” is about a young man endeavoring to bring harmony to his fractured community using the influence of music.
In this story, Ayden Croy portrays Hantjie Jansen, a town resident who is part of the local Christmas choir known as Kerskoor. However, he’s overlooked for the top position, the drum major role, when his uncle, Oom Jakwes (Ivan Abrahams), decides to retire. This slight stems from a longstanding family feud dating back to a decision made by Croy’s father which led to the division of the outstanding Old Righteous Blues Kerskoor into two rival groups and has kept the community divided ever since. Determined to reconcile the bands and mend the rifts within the community, Hantjie embarks on a mission using powerful music to heal old wounds.
Originally conceived by writer-producer Carol Shore, the film titled “Old Righteous Blues” is competing for an Oscar without having premiered at a major festival first. The drama has been showcased at South Africa’s Silwerskerm Film Festival, which focuses on Afrikaans cinema, at the Romford festival in the U.K., and at Florida’s Sunscreen film festival.
South Africa has been given the opportunity to compete for the Best International Feature Film Oscar on two occasions, and it has claimed victory once. This triumph occurred in 2005 with Gavin Hood’s crime drama “Tsotsi.” John Trengove’s film “The Wound” made it onto the Oscar shortlist in 2017 but ultimately did not receive a nomination.
On December 17, 2024, the nominees for the 97th Academy Awards will be announced. The official list of nominees will follow on January 17, 2025. The award ceremony itself is scheduled for March 2, 2025.
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2024-10-10 13:24