Verskietende Ster, the new film directed by Darrel James Roodt, has
been officially selected to premiere on 27 August, at the fifth kykNET
Silwerskermfees, which takes place from 26 to 29 August in Camps Bay, Cape
Town.
The film is based on Stefan Enslin’s novel of the same title and tells the story of
musical prodigy Phillip Schuman, a talented 15-year-old pianist whose genius is
threatened by the weight of the world. When subject advisor, Max du Toit, sees him performing one of his own compositions, he immediately recognises that the boy
has the talent to become a modern-day Beethoven. He takes Phillip under his wing
but soon realises that things are not going to be as easy as he might have thought.
Phillip’s father, Tomas, is mourning the death of his wife Maria and forbids Phillip
from ever touching a piano again. What follows is a true-life drama about the
conflicted relationship between a boy and his father. When Tomas reveals a
shocking truth, Phillip is forced to choose between forgiveness and living in the
past.
The film was produced by long-time collaborators Philo Pieterse and Stefan Enslin.
“The film is not simply an inspirational tale that shows how there is a reason why
certain people are born with special talents, but it’s also a moving exploration of the
power of forgiveness. It’s a stirring story that is bound to move audiences and we
look forward to the response of the festival-goers, who are true film lovers,’ says
Pieterse.
