Reworking of ‘The Seagull’ takes wing
Whatever Chekhov had in mind, this piece of Afrikaans cinema speaks to the messy politics of entrapment
Chekhov, like most Russian 19th-century writers is always delectably transplantable to SA. Today, his more abstruse work, such as The Seagull, has gained even more resonance among those Afrikaner audiences grown used to allusive and elusive plays at the many arts festivals that have become the new centres of introspection for the volk. The arts festivals have spawned the rebirth of Afrikaans cinema driven by former Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees and now KykNet chief Karen Meiring. Streets ahead of other directors is Christiaan Olwagen, who has cut his teeth with an already substantial resume of theatrically audacious stage productions. Die Seemeeu is based on such a stage rendition, co-scripted with another festival stalwart, Woordfees chief Saartjie Botha. It follows Olwagen’s already cult-inducing films Johnny is Nie Dood Nie (whose characters look back at the days of the Voëlvry tour) and Kanarie (the story of a member of the SA Air Force choir in apartheid days). Set in the 1...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.