Cineuropa reports that Black Butterflies, the biopic of tragic South African poet Ingrid Jonker by Dutch director Paula van der Oest, has been released by A-Film on 38 Dutch screens. Van der Oest achieved recognition when she was nominated for her comedy Zus & Zo.
The script for Black Butterflies was written by South African Greg Latter (Goodbye Bafana). Jonker wrote Afrikaans-language poetry in 1950s and 1960s apartheid South Africa, before committing suicide by drowning in 1965. She vigorously opposed the ruling National Party’s apartheid policies.
Dutch actress Carice van Houten stars as Jonker, with Rutger Hauer as her staunchly nationalistic father.
Black Butterflies will have its international premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival later this month, where it will play as part of the World Narrative Competition.
