It was raining cats and dogs outside. Not even the depressing weather could dampen my excitement as I knotted my tie in front of my mirror; getting dressed for the premiere of “The Jakes are missing.”
Over the last week, South African production company Fig Jam Entertainment had wet my appetite with interesting trailers that justified my enthusiasm to attend the premiere.
At 7:24p.m, my coverage of “The Jakes are missing” debut started. The classic Cinema Nouveau at Cedar Square was filled to the brim with photographers, film directors, actors, actresses and discerning film lovers. Most of the ladies and gentlemen in attendance were formerly dressed. An abundance of finger foods and quality local wine was served to guests as they mingled.
My observation of the scenes around me was interrupted by the announcement through the intercom that the first viewing of the movie was about to start. The familiar scent of salt, butter and vinegar on pop corn filled the air as the guests made their way inside the movie theater. Prior to show time, guests lowered their voices and spoke in hushed tones as they found their seats. Shortly after, the lights dimmed and the audience fell silent in anticipation.
The producer of the film, Bianca Isaac addressed the audience before the romantic comedy started. From the first scene of the movie, the good picture quality received my undivided attention. With such an amazing cast, I was curious to see if the movie would live up to the hype; I was particularly interested in seeing how Nomzamo Mbatha will pull off her role as the preacher’s daughter in the motion picture.
Within the first 10 minutes of the movie, one feels the intense theme of a home on the verge of collapsing due to the love lost between the characters Janice (Mampho Brescia) and Donald Jakes (Pope Jerrod). Their teenage son, Simon Jakes (Mpho Sebeng) who gets himself into all kinds of trouble – unintentionally takes them on a journey to rediscover what it means to love each other, again.
With the use of humor, the audience is invited to escape with the Jakes family; away from the powerful theme of divorce. The criminals (Jody Abrahams, Craig Palm & Sokulu Mthiyane) as well as the ladies from Pumpkin Valley (Nicole Bailey, Heidi Mollentze and Celeste Ntuli who plays Candi) generated a lot of laugh-out loud laughter in the Cinema.
A major highlight of the movie was the romance between the preacher’s daughter, Page (Nomzamo Mbatha) and Simon Jakes (Mpho Sebeng).The bond they shared based on their love for music pointed the audience back to the heart-warming message of the beauty of love.
“It was a cute movie at the end. I loved it” said Mbali Mswane (one of the event attendees).
After the viewing, I was honored to rub shoulders with the likes of Nomzamo Mbatha, Mpho Sebeng and Pope Jerrod. “I had my family around. I was so happy that they shared this moment with me,” Mpho Sebeng said. Pope Jerrod said that a lot of positives can be drawn from the movie as it was an obvious indication that the movie scene in Africa is moving in the right direction.
Nomzamo Mbatha revealed to Jozi Gist that she was very nervous at the beginning of the night. “I was truly not sure how the audience will receive the movie. Listening to everyone laughing was such a good feeling.”
After watching the character, Page sing powerful notes like Mary J. Blige in the movie, I was curious to know whether Nomzamo was toying with the idea of releasing a studio album in 2016.
“No….never,” she replied as she flashed her enchanting dimpled smile.
At the end of the night, I was left feeling like my eagerness to attend this premiere was vindicated. It is a movie I will go to the cinema’s to watch again. Even if it is raining cats and dogs outside……
