POPPIE NONGENA

Santa Barbara Film Festival 2021

Director: Christiaan OLWAGEN

Interview by Emmanuel Itier

Q: Tell me why you chose this film and what you were trying to achieve with it?

Christiaan: The film is based on a famous South African novel and I always knew about it. It was even taught in school. I got contacted by the producer to film it. I read the novel in one setting and I was blown away by this account of this woman’s life in South Africa. I had seen Apartheid stories, but they were about famous people and this one was about an ordinary mother trying to keep a family together. And I thought it was also relevant to the global migrant crisis. Whether they are victim of climate changes, persecutions of all types, religious, civil war, etc. I thought there was something quite universal about Poppie’s story. And I thought this apartheid story was connected to the migrant crisis seen around the globe.

Q: Tell me about the challenges to make this film and the daunting process.

Christiaan: The biggest challenge was to re-create Cape Town in the 60’s because it has changed tremendously. Nothing looks like it did back then. We barely have any building from this era. So, making a period film was costly and tricky to find the right locations. This was the most challenging project I had to do. Casting was also an intense and daunting process. We have more than a 100 speaking parts in the film, therefore you can imagine the challenge to cast everyone and the headache of the shooting schedule.

Q: What impact do you hope for this film?

Christiaan: My country has a very painful and complicated history in regard to racial segregation. Strangely, the issues in my film are still relevant and are issues we are still facing today. I hope this film is a cautionary tale for our times.

Q: How was it to be part of the Santa Barbara film festival?

Christiaan: I was so impressed with their on-line platform and the virtual community they created even for people like myself who couldn’t make it since I’m still in South Africa. Festivals are really important for a movie like this one so it can be seen and talked about.