Director Harry Patramanis and producer Eleni Asvesta, a husband and wife duo of filmmakers from Greece, by way of Los Angeles, are premiering their first feature length film, Fynbos, shot entirely in the Western Cape with an all South African cast, on Sunday, July 22 at the Durban International Film Festival.
The film is in competition in all categories including Best South African Film.
Fynbos is described as a bold, psychological, mystery-drama and its ensemble cast is led by Jessica Haines, Warrick Grier, Susan Danford and Sthandiwe Kgoroke.
The film initially presents audiences with an ambitious real estate developer, (Grier), on the brink of bankruptcy, who travels with his wife (Haines) to a lavish and remote property he owns in order to close a prospective deal in a last ditch attempt to save his life as he knows it. What actually transpires in and around this pristine glass house has little to do with money as the story enters into the realms of what Patramanis calls, “a different kind of mystery’.
“We see six distinct lives come together over a real estate deal, though what happens has nothing to do with money or material property, and everything to do with the human condition,’ he says. “I wanted to make an accessible film that challenged the idea of a clear, fixed reality. I wanted to leave things open and invite audiences to interpret certain parts of the story for themselves.’
Fynbos’ lead actors will attend the festival. Jessica Haines (following her breakthrough performance alongside John Malkovich in Disgrace), plays Meryl, a woman grappling with the cruel questions of a life in crisis. Warrick Grier (award winning South African actor and a Fleur du Cap winner for Open Couple) stars as Richard, a hardworking striver taking his final roll of the dice in a bid for success. Susan Danford (award winning actress and Fleur du Cap winner for Harold Pinter’s Betrayal) portrays Anne, a fragile foreigner easily spooked by the isolated sanctuary. Sthandiwe Kgoroke is one of South Africa’s most talented entertainment personalities and stars as Officer Toni Bengu, a policewoman in search of truth. Cara Roberts, John Herbert and Chad Philips complete the cast.
Fynbos is the first feature film from Patramanis, produced by Asvesta, through their company A Four Letter Word. The Los Angeles based outfit has a mission to work fearlessly in telling original stories with international filmmakers for whom the process of making a film is as important as the final product.
Fynbos was made with a minimal crew (including DOP Dieter Deventer, and editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis) with an intimate “family’ approach to creative collaboration.
“I never shouted, “Action!’ and I never had to explain a scene,’ says Patramanis. “We were always in creative step on the story and the way to tell it. It was truly an amazing experience.’
Fynbos premieres on Sunday, 22 July at the Suncoast A at 19:00.
To watch the teaser of FYNBOS visit http://afourletterword.net/
