The South African classic novel, A Story of an African Farm, by Olive Schreiner is finally made it to the big screen, after 10 years of hard work.
Schreiner's novel is one of South Africa's best loved stories and has been acclaimed as a landmark of modern feminist literature. It was written between 1874-75 published 8 years later in London, to rave reviews. It tells the story of Tant Sannie, her two young charges Em and Lyndall, farm manager Otto and his genius son Waldo, who live in the Karoo and whose lives are turned upside down by the arrival of Bonaparte Blenkins. Blenkins, thinking that Tant Sannie is a wealthy landowner, sets about wooing her but the children are wise to his tricks.
Bonnie Rodini, the South African writer / producer, wrote the script with the input from director James Dearden, with whom she was working on A Kiss Before Dying in New York. He also wrote the script for Fatal Attraction. Rodini read the book as part of her Matric setwork. She battled to find investors and eventually put the project aside as she embarked on an award-winning television career. She refined the script during this time and finally in 2002, she met with actor Richard E Grant in Cape Town. She thought he would be right person to play the part of Blenkins, and he accepted. Bodini set about raising the millions needed, cold calling wealthy businessmen. She got the Oscar winner Armin Meuller Stahl to play Otto, and acclaimed South African director David Lister to direct. Filming took place at Zoute Kloof Farm, halfway between Matjiesfontein and Laingsburg.
