Somewhere in Africa, some underground bikes races take place. Elias, a young man from the countryside, builds his own bike, using several used parts recovered from landfills. He will begin his great trip to the capital, to have a piece of the dream and take place in the race of his life.
Three films about a Journey
These three films are being show together for the way they express, knowingly and otherwise, Joseph Campbell monomyth on the “Hero’s Journey”. The ‘hero’s journey’ according to Campbell is always in three parts, separation/ departure, initiation and the return. Although the follwing three films don’t follow this structure narratively, the three stages are interestingly engaged. Jas Boude and Berg Boys are films produced by the Centre for Film and Media Studies, UCT.
Jas Boude
An experimental documentary exploring the dynamics between one’s identity and the space in which it is formed in the context of skateboarders in the Cape Flats. 20sk8 are a skateboarding collective from the Cape Flats against gangsterism and drugs. Through an intimate study of the group, this experimental documentary explores the struggles experienced by these skateboarders in relation to their identity and the space in which it is formed in a post-apartheid South Africa. Set against a landscape that physically reflects the injustices of the past, the film will analyse the way in which the ‘born free’ generation are expressing themselves through an emerging subculture in the Cape Flats and whether or not it is one of significant change. By Georgina Warner, Fritz Bucker, Imraan Christian
African Race
African Race, is set in Dakar and shot by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau. The film follows a young man, Elias, as he goes on an underground bike race. Elias is from the rural Senegal, builds his own bike, using several used parts recovered from landfills and begin his great trip to the capital, to have a piece of the dream and so take part in the ‘race’ of his life.
‘Berg Boys’
Berg Boys tells the story of two Muizenberg locals, Nobel de Castro and Christopher Todd. After receiving free surfing lessons as a youngster, Nobel is now a semi-professional surfer and works as a coach to share his passion. Hoping to follow in Nobel’s footsteps, fourteen-year-old Christopher dreams of being a professional surfer one day. Christopher is part of a young generation of surfers, the ‘berg boys’, whose passion for the waves keeps them away from the many dangers youngsters face growing up in the Muizenberg community. For the ‘Berg Boys, surfing is a natural high, offering them an escape from their everyday lives. Now, Christopher must face his biggest challenge yet as he competes in a series of provincial trials for the chance to attend the national junior championships. By Meghan Adams, Kaylin Simmons, James Honnibal, Abigail Edwards, Nicole Malherbe.