The new Afrikaans-language feature film, Karate Kallie – Die Hele Movie, releases at the South African cinema circuit from 18 September. Based on the short film Karate Kallie by Willem (Wimpie) Van der Merwe, the feature version was written and directed by Van der Merwe and executive produced by Charl Groenewald.
Ster-Kinekor Distribution will release the film English subtitles, with the DVD available from Ster-Kinekor Home Entertainment in December
Says Groenewald: “We believe the film will have broad appeal because of its universal themes – love, pride, respect – which cross gender, race, language and even national boundaries.”
Produced by Pia van Rensburg, Karate Kallie – Die Hele Movie features Wynand van Vollenstee (Kallie); Mike Smuts as his brother, Mike; Leani Lerm playing his love interest, Annetjie; and Petrus Harmse in the role of bully Fritz. They are joined by several seasoned actors including Marga van Rooy, Ben Kruger, Henrietta Gryffenberg, Marhette van Huyssteen and Richard van der Westhuizen. Newcomers Solomon Cupido and the feisty Carmilla Mosavel round out the cast.
Van der Merwe graduated cum laude in 2006 with a B-Tech degree in Scriptwriting and Directing from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). The Karate Kallie short film generated something of a cult following after its frequent airings on pay-TV broadcaster M-Net since 2007. It also garnered numerous awards, played at a number of film festivals and has spread as far as the DRC, Tanzania and Afghanistan.
