SOUTH AFRICA: New South African film highlights country's shocking rape statistics

Record ID: 335405

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: New South African film highlights country's shocking rape statistics
  • Date: 26th April 2013
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (APRIL 25. 2013) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) LITTLE ONE DIRECTOR, DARRELL ROODT SAYING: "When you make movies, you don't set out to change the world and you don't set out to be the final answer on subject matter, you set out to make films that hopefully generate discussion or just inspire or make you think. So the few films I have made they
  • Embargoed: 11th May 2013 13:00
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  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Reuters ID: LVAT8TWPFZYQ8BRRAUOIT9158QA
  • Story Text: A film addressing South Africa's child rape epidemic opens today on Friday (April 26th) in movie theatres around the country.
    According to aid groups and local organisations South Africa has the highest rate of rape in the world, including child and baby rape.
    It is estimated that one person is raped every 26 seconds and South African filmmaker Darrell Roodt hope the movie will bring that reality to the big screen and spur action to reduce sexual violence.
    Roodt, who wrote the award winning film Yesterday, in his latest movie 'Little One' has another classic South African tale on his hands, highlighting a harrowing societal issue.
    "When you make movies, you don't set out to change the world and you don't set out to be the final answer on subject matter, you set out to make films that hopefully generate discussion or just inspire or make you think. So the few films I have made they have meant something to people, it hasn't because its like a definite of statement on what's happening but it just illuminates their lives," said Roodt at the movie premiere.
    Filmed in an informal settlement, the story is based on the tragic true story of a six-year-old girl played by Vuyelwa Msimang who is left for dead in a township in Johannesburg.
    She is found by a middle-aged woman named Pauline, played by Lindiwe Ndlovu who takes her to hospital, then befriends the child.
    After saving her life, Pauline discovers that the little girl has been raped and her face beaten so badly, she was almost disfigured.
    The director, Roodt says this story was inspired by a TV news insert that he saw about a six-year-old girl who was raped and horrifically beaten.
    The movie was selected as South Africa's official entry for best foreign film at this year's 85th Oscars Academy Awards.
    Although it did not make the final shortlist, the leading actress Lindiwe Ndlovu won her first award at the Annual South African Film and Television Awards.
    Ndlovu was awarded South Africa's Golden Horn for Best Actress in a Feature Film and says playing Pauline in Little One, has been a humbling experience.
    "t's a current issue like you saying, you know somebody who knows somebody, who has been through this situation but how do we then come in as a community and say okay we need to help there. Who is it really that we need to help, do we need to the perpetrators or do we need to help the victims or do we need to help our selves before we can even help others, we all need healing as a nation we need healing," Ndlovu said.
    The film follows Pauline's journey as she becomes actively involved in the child's case. From kidnapping her at the hospital after an unsuccessful attempt to adopt her, to conducting her own investigation into what happened to the little girl.
    Audience members at the movie premiere say that they were moved by the film, and although it tackles a serious issue, it also highlights themes of love, redemption and hope.
    "It was really moving, I mean it, I know its a clich�but its like a small story with such a big heart and its one of those things every South African should watch it and I can see why it almost got nominated for an Oscar," said Johannesburg resident, Anna Marie Jansen Van Vuuren.
    "Look, I funded the film from our organisation obviously it's the film that we believe in, the film that we thinking, it's giving a good message. It's a positive message and it's a message of awareness and more then anything, I think its a lovely story line that just impacts on the realities of life that's what happening in South Africa," said Nthabeleng Phora, a representative at the Gauteng Film Commission.
    The film presents shocking statistics that show one out of three girls in South Africa is raped before the age of 21 and 150 children are raped every day.
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