Leaving Mandela Park
Feature docuementary
Children escape poverty through music and dans in the townships of Cape Town, South Africa
Leaving Mandela Park is a story about children’s dreams in the townships of South Africa. Each child has an extraordinary drive to escape the harsh reality of everyday life through music and dance. Siseko sings opera escaping the abuse by his father, Cynthia plays the saxofoon while staying out of the hands of gangsters, and Guava sings kwaito on streetcorners while Pinkie dances her way out of poverty.
Their dreams are not isolated. They form a metaphor for the future of a country that will depend on this young generation.
2010, 70 min. 16 mm film
Director, screenplay Saskia Vredeveld
Script Bart de Graaff
Camera Melle van Essen
Editing Riekje Ziengs
Sound Frenk van de Sterre
Music Hans Helawaut
Producers Frank van den Engel, Mara Mouwen, Willemijn Ceruttie
Zeppers Film, co-production Off World, Belgum., Ikon, Cobo Funds, Dutch Film Fund,
Dutch TV and cinemas, SABC, various filmfestivals
Audience Award, Ekaterinburg Russia