Local is lekker: Six SA movies

Sisters Tumi and Beauty in ‘How To Ruin Christmas: The Wedding’. Image via Instagram @netflixsa

Local is lekker: Six SA movies to watch on Heritage Day

Heritage Day is celebrated on 24 September…and after your braai, why not on the couch with a good local movie? Here’s six of the best to choose from!

Local is lekker: Six SA movies

Sisters Tumi and Beauty in ‘How To Ruin Christmas: The Wedding’. Image via Instagram @netflixsa

Heritage Day is around the corner and while some South Africans are getting ready to light up the firelighters for a spicy braai, other South Africans might want to kick back with a film. Here are six local films you should watch!

ALSO READ: Braais, tours and more! Discover Heritage Day events in SA [photos]

1. ‘SPUD’ (2010)

Spud is a South African classic that follows a young John “Spud” Milton (singer-songwriter Troye Sivan) who tries to navigate his way through an elite Kwa Zulu-Natal boarding school. Along the way, he meets seven other boys with who he shares a dormitory. 

Throughout the film, we meet his wacky family, a few of the teachers and some of Spud’s romantic interests. The cast features English actor John Cleese and South African actress Tanit Phoenix. Spud is a feel-good film that’ll have you in stitches. 

Spud is available to stream on Showmax.


2. ‘MATWETWE’ (2018)

Directed by Kagiso Lediga, Matwetwe is a film that follows best friends Lefa and Papi (Sibusiso Khwinana and Tebatso Mashishi) who have just finished high school and are looking to secure the biggest deal of their lives.

Unfortunately for them, the deal does not go as planned at all and they have to dodge a gangster in the midst of it all. The film is set in Pretoria township, Atteridgeville and is an honest depiction of township life for two 18-year-old boys. 

Matwetwe is available on Showmax. 

3. ‘HOW TO RUIN CHRISTMAS: THE WEDDING’ (2020)

How To Ruin Christmas: The Wedding is a three-part series about a woman who just manages to mess up almost anything she touches. Tumi Sello (Busi Lurayi) arrives in Johannesburg ahead of her sister Beauty’s (Thando Thabethe) wedding. 

Beauty is marrying the son of Minister Vusi Twala (Lehlohonolo Saint Seseli) and she needs everything to go perfectly but unfortunately for her, nothing goes right. This is a story about how a family can come together and save the day when necessary. 

How To Ruin Christmas: The Wedding is a Netflix original series. 

ALSO READ: Celebrating our cultural roots: Why every day should be a Heritage Day

4. ‘ELLEN, THE ELLEN PAKKIES STORY’ (2018)

This Afrikaans Drama film is a true story about Ellen Pakkies (Jill Levenberg) who murders her 20-year-old drug-addict son Abie Pakkies (Jarried Geduld). Directed by Daryne Joshua the film is set in Cape Town and was celebrated by several film critics. 

Ellen, The Ellen Pakkies Story is a heartbreaking film and it depicts the realities of the Cape Flats. 

The film is available on Showmax. 

5. ‘FANIE FOURIE’S LOBOLA’ (2013)

Thie is a classic South African comedy where an Afrikaans man Fanie Fourie (Henk Pretorious) falls in love with a Zulu woman, Dinky Magubane (Zethu Dlomo). Things get complicated for Fanie when Dinky’s father requests 65 cows for his daughter’s lobola. 

The film sees Fanie trying to navigate around how he’s going to figure everything out. 

Fanie Fourie’s Lobola is available on Showmax.

6. ‘TRIPPIN WITH THE KANDASAMYS’ (2021)

Trippin with the Kandasamys is a film about two women Jodie and Jennifer(Shanti and Jailoshini) who are hoping to rekindle their marriages. They go on a trip to San Lameer with their husbands but a few uninvited guests crash the party. 

The film is humorous but also has a few relatable moments. 

Trippin with the Kandasamys is available on Netflix.