What is the holiday season without a feel-good Christmas movie? This December, kykNET celebrates with a festive film seen through the eyes of our children – Desemberdiewe, a feature the whole family can enjoy.
Desemberdiewe, written and directed by Carla Smith, debuts on Saturday 17 December at 20:00 on kykNET (DStv Channel 144) and stars several well-known actors such as June van Merch, Roeline Daneel, Charlton George, Lida Botha and Marvin-Lee Beukes, as well as three exciting young newcomers, Judi Hattingh, Juan-Christoff Smith and Blake Pharo.
Desemberdiewe tells the story of eleven-year-old mischievous Jo (Judi Hattingh) who needs to learn how to be good, even when no one is watching. It is summer in South Africa and having just moved to a small town with her mom, Retha (Roeline Daneel), Jo would do anything to be anywhere else right now.
After learning about karma, Jo decides that stealing Christmas gifts from the rich to give to the kids at the orphanage, would be the perfect way to prove to the universe she deserves better. She meets Lem (Juan-Christoff Smith) and Azul (Blake Pharo) and the motley crew start to strategise under the watchful eye of local policeman Sgt. Kleingeld (Marvin-Lee Beukes).
Themes of kindness, friendship, and generosity, as well as loneliness and hardship form part of this heart-warming holiday film. These ideas are explored through the conflict between the elderly and the youth’s perspective on Christmas: Night vs. Day, Laws vs. Personal Morality, Responsibility vs. Sabotage, and Togetherness vs. Isolation.
“My partner, Beer Adriaanse, and I try to have a session every month where we throw around ideas,” says Carla about how the seed for Desemberdiewe was sown. “We talked about various genre films and because Christmas is so close to my heart, that was one of the ideas. My grandparents live in Wolseley and that is where I have spent Christmas with my cousins for many years since we were little. These are some of my favourite childhood memories – the wide, empty streets, the lights, the summer sun going down late and the community choir singing Christmas songs from door to door. I love children and want to show with this film that there are more things to do than play games on your phone. That the creativity born out of boredom, is one of the reasons why I love the countryside so much.”
Desemberdiewe was filmed in McGregor, and producer Jaco Nothnagel says it took some time to find the right young actors to play the three roles. “But it was all worth the wait, as they are a very special group of kids,” he says.
“To be well prepared and to communicate clearly is the only way,” says Carla about her approach as a director. “To make the set an enjoyable place for the kids was easy, and they quickly became friends. The challenge was to make it fun as well. Lots of energy, jokes and sweets was the answer. But they were very professional and lovely to work with. Absolutely no worries.”
If she had to describe Desemberdiewe in one sentence?
“Nostalgic, naughty-but-nice fun for the whole family.”
Watch Desemberdiewe on Saturday 17 December at 20:00 on kykNET (DStv Channel 144)
