In her village in Lesotho, widow Mantoa (80) is preparing for the end by arranging her own funeral and bidding farewell to worldly affairs. Suddenly, it is announced that her close-knit community will have to make way for the construction of a reservoir. Everyone will have to move to the cities, leaving their homes, fields, cemetery, lives and traditions behind. While most are overwhelmed by this bizarre news, it rekindles Mantoa’s lust for life. She has no intention of giving up everything in the name of ‘progress’.
For this melancholy modern fairy tale, filmmaker and visual artist Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese adapted the story of his own grandmother and of many inhabitants of rural parts of Lesotho facing the same problems. Many people are being forced to leave their homes in beautiful Lesotho. What does such abrupt uprooting do to the social relations, centuries-old traditions and spiritual identity of these people?
Film details
Productielanden
Italy, Lesotho
Jaar
2019
Festivaleditie
IFFR 2020
Lengte
120'
Medium/Formaat
DCP
Taal
Sotho (Southern)
Première status
None
Director
Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese
Producer
Elias Ribeiro, Cait Pansegrouw
Screenplay
Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese
Editing
Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese
Production company
Urucu Media
Sales / World rights holder
Memento Films International
Cinematography
Pierre de Villiers
Production design
Leila Walter
Sound design
Pressure Cooker Studios
Music
Yu Miyashita
Principal cast
Mary Twala Mhlongo, Jerry Mofokeng Wa Makhetha, Makhaola Ndebele, Tseko Monaheng, Siphiwe Nzima