The much-anticipated South African documentary, The Boers at the End of the World, is being released in independent cinemas across the country from 18 March.
Titled Boere op die Aardsdrempel in Afrikaans, the film about a century-old community of Afrikaners in a remote region of Patagonia has been two years in the making. The opening night of the film will be a nerve-wracking one for the filmmakers, as it is also the gala awards evening of the SAFTAs (South African Film and Television Awards), for which The Boers at the End of the World has three nominations.
The cinema release comes as validation of the appeal of the film, as so few documentaries make it onto the silver screen. “The project started life through a crowdfunding campaign, and we were overwhelmed at the positive response,” says producer Kelly Scott. “People from all over the world contributed generously to ensure that it got off the ground, so it’s great to finally be able to show the wider audience that their faith in the project was well-founded.” Director and cinematographer Richard Finn Gregory adds: “We always knew this was an incredible story. It’s really satisfying to see that the independent cinemas are keen to bring it to a wider audience.”
And it’s a story that seems almost unbelievable: in a remote stretch of Patagonia, Argentina, there is an over 100-year-old community that speaks Afrikaans. After the destruction of the Second Anglo-Boer War in 1902, these Boers sailed across the Atlantic to start a new life. Today, only a few dozen still speak the language and they struggle to keep their culture alive. While some continue the lifestyle of their forefathers, others embrace modern Argentina. The film is a portrait of the last days of the community and one family’s efforts to reconnect with South Africa.
The film will be screening at the Labia Theatre in Cape Town, the Bioscope Independent Cinema in Johannesburg, Epic Cinemas in Bloemfontein as well as another nine venues countrywide. Visit the website at www.boersfilm.com for more locations and dates.
Produced by documentary studio GOOD WORK, the movie is then being distributed by Times Media Films on DVD and M-Net for broadcast on its channels later in the year. It premiered at the Silwerskermfees in August 2015, and is also in competition at the RapidLion International Film Festival on 13 & 18 March.
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