Siyavuta
by Mpendulo Myeni
2024, South Africa, 24 mins
2:30 PM on Sept 21, 2024
About the movie
English
Moses Lechuti is a legendary theatre maker and artist in Bloemfontein, Free State. Born in raised in Karriefontein, a small rural farm just outside of Brandfort, F.S. At the start of high school he moved to Rocklands, Bloemfontein. Due to the political climate, children became politically conscience at a very young age and were consequently recruited into the ANC and during the ANC ban, affiliated resistance groups. Moses became a member of one of these student organizations while in high school. Moses soon climbed the ranks and received a lot of unwanted attention from the police and other apartheid regime officials. This saw him being arrested and serving out punishment sentences at Groenvlei prison from a very young age. Moses starts stepping back from the MLK movement after being stigmatized due to being accused of being an informant, and so to continue to give a voice to his political stance, he finds theatre, acting and directing. This rockets him into the arts, where he meets, teaches, and inspires other legendary artists. However, Moses Lechuti, legendary director in the Free State still goes unrecognized by his own provisional government and Free State Arts institutions. This film is a well-deserved tribute to a legend.
Français
Moses Lechuti est un créateur de théâtre et un artiste légendaire de Bloemfontein, dans Free State. Il est né et a grandi à Karriefontein, une petite ferme rurale située juste à l’extérieur de Brandfort, dans l’État libre. Au début de ses études secondaires, il a déménagé à Rocklands, à Bloemfontein. En raison du climat politique, les enfants sont devenus politiquement conscients à un très jeune âge et ont donc été recrutés par l’ANC et, pendant l’interdiction de l’ANC, par des groupes de résistance affiliés. Moses est devenu membre de l’une de ces organisations étudiantes alors qu’il était au lycée. Moses a rapidement gravi les échelons et a fait l’objet d’une attention non désirée de la part de la police et d’autres responsables du régime de l’apartheid. C’est ainsi qu’il a été arrêté et qu’il a purgé des peines à la prison de Groenvlei dès son plus jeune âge. Moses commence à prendre du recul par rapport au mouvement MLK après avoir été stigmatisé parce qu’il était accusé d’être un informateur, et pour continuer à donner une voix à ses positions politiques, il découvre le théâtre, le jeu et la mise en scène. Cela le propulse dans le monde des arts, où il rencontre, enseigne et inspire d’autres artistes légendaires. Cependant, Moses Lechuti, metteur en scène légendaire de l’État libre, n’est toujours pas reconnu par son propre gouvernement provisoire et par les institutions artistiques de l’État libre. Ce film est un hommage bien mérité à une légende.
About the directors
Mpendulo Quinton Myeni
Mpendulo Quinton Myeni, known to his peers as Troy, is a dynamic and talented individual who has made a significant impact in the Free State film industry. A proud University of the Free State Drama and Film alumnus, Mpendulo graduated with in both Drama and Film in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Since entering the film industry in 2019, Mpendulo has quickly made a name for himself as an Executive Producer, Director, Screenwriter and director of photography. His passion for storytelling and dedication to his craft have led him to found his own production company in the Free State, Pathway Productions, where he has successfully produced and directed seven films. Mpendulo’s work has been recognized with a PAFF (Pan African Film Festival Los Angeles) award, showcasing his talent and creativity on an international stage. This remains the defining moment for Mpendulo because as he says: “being acknowledged in spaces where nobody knows you, is the true test”. Additionally, he has been named one of the Top 50 Inspirational Youth in the Free State, cementing his status as a role model for aspiring artists in the region. Currently, Mpendulo has three films in post-production, with one set to release later in 2024. He is also in pre-production for his first animated film, Unleavened, showcasing his versatility as a filmmaker. Through his hard work and determination, Mpendulo is breaking barriers and paving the way for Free State artists in the film industry.
Trailer
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