U-Carmen eKhayelitsha

(South Africa, 2004, 127 minutes)

In the Cape Town township of Khayelitsha, fiery, feisty rabblerouser Carmen seduces a police sergeant into loving her. Bizet’s classic opera is brought to contemporary South Africa and translated into the native xhosa language; this is an opened-out record of a hugely successful stage production, featuring the original local all-singing cast (with a good lead performance), but it is a dull if earnest record with serious narrative problems and non-descript handling.

A Nando's Arts initiative in association with Spier Films. A Dimpho Di Kopana production, made with the financial support of the Department of Trade and Industry, and with the assistance of the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa. Starring Pauline Malefane, Andries Mbali, Andiswa Kedama, Ruby Mthethwa, Andile Tshoni, Bulelwa Cosa, Zintle Mgolwe, Lungelwa Blou, Zamile Gantana, Zorro Sidloyi, Joel Mthethwa, Noluthando Boqwana. Directed by Mark Dornford-May; produced by Mark Dornford-May, Ross Garland and Camilla Driver; screenplay by Mark Dornford-May, Andiswa Kedama and Pauline Malafane, adapted from the original libretto by Ludovic Halevy and Henry Meilhac for the opera "Carmen" by Georges Bizet; music by Georges Bizet; musical director, Charles Hazlewood; director of photography, Giulio Biccari; set designer, Craig Smith; costume designer, Jessica Dornford-May; film editor, Ronelle Loots; choreographer, Joel Mthethwa.

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