RECIPES FOR LOVE & MURDER | Binge from 25 May
When a woman who wrote to her seeking advice is found dead, recipe advice columnist Tannie Maria and her colleague, rookie journalist Jessie, spring into action, determined to solve this small town murder and catch the killer.
Based on the first of Sally Andrew’s bestselling Tannie Maria novels, Recipes For Love and Murder was selected for Berlinale Series Market Selects 2022 – described as being for “curated series with high market potential”, the same strand Donkerbos screened in this year.
Award-winning Irish actress Maria Doyle Kennedy (The Tudors, Outlander, Orphan Black) stars as Maria Purvis, aka Tannie Maria. The rest of the cast is entirely South African, with Kylie Fisher (Zamanti in Troukoors) earning shoutouts from the likes of Variety and Decider for her breakthrough role as Jessie. Also look out for SAFTA nominees Tony Kgoroge and Jennifer Steyn as chief detective Khaya Meyer and Hattie Wilson, publisher of the Karoo Gazette, respectively, plus a host of familiar faces.
A co-production between M-Net, Acorn TV in America, and two-time International Emmy nominees Both Worlds Pictures, the ten-episode series is directed by SAFTA winners Christiaan Olwagen (Kanarie) and Karen Jeynes (Puppet Nation ZA), who also adapted the novel. The murder mystery is set against the idyllic backdrop of a small fictional Karoo town called Eden, which was largely created in Prince Albert, with gorgeous cinematography by SAFTA winner and Camerimage nominee Vicci Turpin (Poppie Nongena, Four Corners).
TVFanatic says it’s “delightful… The vistas are stunning! The food is even better… Murder never tasted so good!” while The New York Times says the series, “offers the same mix of human drama, gorgeous landscapes, local colour and mouthwatering cooking [as the book]” adding that “despite the murders and simmering racial undertones, the show keeps its warm, humorous tone through the quiet, grounded character of Maria, with her empathetic, practical advice.”9m
RISE: THE SIYA KOLISI STORY | Stream now
In June 2023, Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story will have its international premiere at Tribeca, one of the world’s top film festivals.
The 92-minute documentary reveals a different side to the Springboks’ first black African captain, who led South Africa to victory at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. In addition to documenting his improbable rise to international stardom, the intimate documentary also sees Kolisi open up about his struggle with alcoholism and his relationship with his wife Rachel.
An Orange Films and Star Films production for Supersport, Rise is directed by Tebogo “Tebza” Malope, who’s won Gold at Cannes Lions and the Grand Prix at the Loerie Awards, among other honours. The documentary boasts a soundtrack by Mandisi Dyantis and Haezer, who also edited the feature.
As Tribeca programmer Casey Baron says, Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story “jumps off the screen like a fairy tale” and is “universal in its themes of overcoming, community, passion, and forgiveness.”
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF DURBAN S3 REUNION | Showmax Original | Stream on 10 & 17 May
Showmax has just dropped a teaser for the two-part reunion of The Real Housewives of Durban, hosted by MaBlerh.
This sneak peek is so juicy and intense, our wigs are snatched. From Maria’s dramatic exit – a staple in all The Real Housewives franchises the world over – to MaBlerh pressing Mbali on what Mabusi vibes are, and from Nonku bursting into tears when asked about her fiancé to Sane being confronted on the things she said, it’s clear the ladies did not come to play.
The Real Housewives of Abuja and The Real Housewives of Nairobi are also charting on Showmax, ahead of the Abuja finale this Friday, 5 May 2023, and the Nairobi finale next Thursday, 11 May 2023.
On 11 May 2023, reality TV fans can also look forward to the return of Musa Mseleku and his wives in Season 6 of Mzansi Magic’s Uthando Nes’thembu – the third most popular show on DStv in December 2022. Also look out for Season 1 of Imboni Yamatekisi from 29 May – another Mzansi Magic reality show, this time lifting the curtain on the lives of taxi bosses.
IMIBUZO S1 | First on Showmax | Mondays from 8 May
Imibuzo is a true crime documentary anthology that will answer your lingering questions about some of South Africa’s biggest news stories from the last decade.
Season 1 of the Showmax Original will revisit the murders of Flabba from Skwatta Kamp; Tshegofatso Pule, Phumeza Pepeta, Karabo Mokoena and Tshepang Pitse; LGBTQIA+ musician and activist Lindokuhle Cele; and the children of Sibusiso Mpungose, as well as the Enyobeni Tavern massacre. Other episodes focus on televangelist Tim Omotoso, who is currently in jail awaiting trial on 97 charges of rape, racketeering and human trafficking, and Sibongile Mali, who went on a spending spree after R14m was erroneously deposited into her account.
Imibuzo is being produced by POP24, part of Media24, who made the reality series This Body Works For Me, which topped the Showmax Top 20 and Twitter trends charts. POP24 also co-produced the SAFTA-nominated true crime anthology Huisgenoot: Ware Lewensdramas.
HORISONNE | A Showmax film | Stream from 2 June
Free your mind before you lose it…
Melissa, a psychologist, learns that her ex-lover, Melchior van Staden, has set up Horisonne, a mindfulness estate where he seems to be brainwashing young men and women, spiritually and psychologically. She’s even more concerned when she discovers that her 18-year-old daughter Adri, whom she had given up for adoption, is now the cult leader’s right-hand woman. Going to the estate herself, she risks her life to save her daughter from Melchior’s power.
The eerie psychological thriller stars SAFTA winner Elma Postma as Melissa opposite former Boo! frontman Chris Chameleon as Melchior, reuniting the two stars 17 years after their bittersweet romantic storyline on 7de Laan as Dezi and Liam.
Rising star Deoudoné Van der Merwe, the face of kykNET’s Stella campaign, plays Adri. SAFTA winner André Velts (Die Pro, Raaiselkind, Vergeet My Nie) directs, while Fleur du Cap nominee and Fiesta winner Wessel Pretorius wrote the script, including a scene-stealing part for himself as a psychopath.
ENTANGLED S1 | Binge now
Entangled follows Sharon, a 30-something about to marry the love of her life, Sizwe … until Julius, a blast from the past, returns to disrupt their happy-ever-after. Together, they’ll have to navigate this complex triangle, and the consequences of the choices they made in their 20s.
The 13-part 1Magic romcom series stars Phuthi Khomo (Egoli, Imbewu), Vuyo Ngcukana (The Queen) and AMAA nominee Vuyo Dabula (Five Fingers for Marseilles), alongside the likes of Mpho Popps, Senzo Radebe, Pearl Modiadie, Tessa Twala and SAFTA winner Motshabi Tyelele.
Entangled is created by SAFTA winners Katleho Ramaphakela and Rethabile Ramaphakela (How to Ruin Christmas) and directed by SAFTA winner Johnny Barbuzano (The River, The Republic, Still Breathing).
HANDS UP | A Showmax film | Stream now
No pressure, no diamond.
In the new Showmax film Hands Up, a hardworking police officer (Lehasa Moloi from Rockville and Mrs. Right Guy) learns the love of his life (former Miss South Africa finalist Luyolo Mngonyama) is the diamond thief he’s been hunting down. He finds himself caught between turning her in or running away with her.
Ishmauel Songo (Lingashoni, The Wife) co-stars as her ex-boyfriend and partner in crime, along with the likes of Siyasanga Papu (Gomora) and Aubrey Mmakola (The Station).
Hands Up topped the movie charts on Showmax on its release. The action-packed romcom is the fourth Showmax film by executive producer and director Thapelo Motloung (Gog’Shezi’s Christmas, Laduma). “Hand’s Up is a rom-com like no other, starring some of the best talent of our time and filled with laughter, joy, love and thrills,” says Motloung.
Commissioning editor Zolisa Sigwanda agrees. “Hands Up is a fun movie with a stellar cast, a not-so-typical rom-com which offers twists and turns and all the feels. Lovers and families alike will enjoy this one and all the thrills it offers.”
DINGE VAN ‘N KIND S1 | Binge from 11 May 2023
From Nagvlug Films (Donkerbos, Nêrens, Noord-Kaap) comes Dinge van ‘n Kind, inspired by Marita van der Vyver’s classic novel.
Melissa Myburgh (Kompleks) plays Mart Vermaak in the 1970s, with SAFTA nominee Cintaine Schutte (Fynskrif) as Mart in the early 90s and Susanne Beyers (Fynskrif) as Mart in the present. Mart comes of age against the political backdrop of the turbulent late 1970s, while the older versions of Mart find themselves disillusioned in different ways. Look out for rising star Mienke Ehlers as the young Mart’s rebellious best friend Dalena.
The kykNET series was filmed in Cape Town, Hoedspruit and Pretoria Zoo.
SEX AND PLEASURE S1 | Showmax Original | Binge now
Hosted by writer Kim Windvogel and journalist Romantha Botha, Sex & Pleasure takes a broad look at what South Africans get up to behind closed doors, and, well, everywhere else too. Each episode explores tlof tlof in relation to a different topic: parenting, love, sex work, pills and potions, orgasm, disability, age, and spirituality.
Kim and Romantha co-wrote and conceptualised Sex & Pleasure with director Ayanda Duma, who was also a producer on the South African leg of Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne, which you can binge on Showmax now. SAFTA winner IdeaCandy (Steinheist, Devilsdorp) produces the eight-part series, which includes playful motion graphics by Mbali Hlatshwayo.
CapeEtc calls Sex and Pleasure ” a refreshingly open-minded and non-judgemental approach to exploring topics that are often considered taboo…. Whether you’re curious about what goes on behind closed doors or simply interested in expanding your knowledge of human sexuality, Sex and Pleasure is the perfect documentary series to empower and educate you… A must-watch.”
