Fanie Fourie lobola
When two
people from completely different cultures fall in love, it isn’t expected to be
roses and paddles. Misunderstandings and cultural barriers and clashes are
expected, but those when these people come from South Africa, one of the most
divided and diverse countries on the planet, be assured that disaster and
hilarity will ensue.
Fanie Fourie
is a 2013 South African romantic comedy based on a novel (of the same name) by
Nape a Montana. The film Features a culturally diverse cast of actors as well
as a production team. The main focus of the film is cross cultural
relationships and challenges associated with such relationships. Nape’a wrote in both English and Sepedi. I
believe, while the film is in Zulu, English and Afrikaans (fully subtitled). It
begins with a silly dare between brothers, and is an honest and positive story
reflecting accurate and nuanced complex relationships between black and white
in South Africa. Having said that it is definitely a romantic comedy because it
makes you laugh and cry.
The situations are true-to-life, many of these
attitudes –especially of the older people are very recognisable and you end
uprooting for the hero and heroine in a big way.
The movie is
a lovely metaphor for a changing South Africa and if people are still living by
the apartheid mind-set, I doubt they would the movie interesting or relevant to
them. This film like stated above is a movie about interracial couple who want
to get married. Fanie is the Afrikaner guy who’s fallen in love with Dinky, a
Zulu. Nowadays, such a marriage is becoming more and more common in South
Africa. Up until about 20 years ago, such a marriage was illegal and might have
sent the couple to prison. But now, the country is enjoying a certain level of acceptance
for such relationships though the cultural differences are massive and go far
beyond colour. He speaks afrikaansa variant of Dutch that is been spoke by white settlers since the 17th century.
She speaks IsiZulu. The film is in both languages including English. In fact, South
Africa has 11 different official languages that is why the movie is subtitled
and the differences are greater yet which you’ll discover when you see the
film.
While Fanie
and Dinky’s families are having a hard time accepting this marriage, there so
is a cultural problem Fanie didn’t anticipate, the lobola. This is a dowry that
the groom must pay the bride’s father in order to get his permission to marry
his daughter. In the film, Dinky said this felt like Fanie had to buy her but
her father insists on doing things the old fashioned way. Not that the African tradition
of the brides price is attacked in the movie. Dinky herself gets to point out
to her father why it feels demanding to be treated like a chattel being transferred
from one owner to another, but the overall perspective of the movie is
studiedly neutral. It has to be: the two cultural clashes must be treated even-handily,
with each given the space to express itself. Thus Faniea mother (Marga van Rooy)
is also able to express her tradition, which means white Afrikaner objection to
miscegenation, and its not labelled as outright racism any more than Dinkys
dads views are shown to be oppressively patriarchal sexism.
There is one
problem with the Lobola, however Fanie is a struggling artist and like most
struggling artist, he is poor, And, a slick and handsome black man, Mandla has
already offered the lobola for Dinky’s hand and he’s quiet wealthy. What is the very nice but somewhat nerdy
Fanie to do?How can he provide for the lobola and get the woman of his dreams?
When you
watch the movie you learn that there are a few benefits out of an interracial
relationship and there are as follows:
> You get
tolerant about another culture or religion while you teach the opposite race
your religion.
> You get
exposed to new ways of thinking as to being stereotyped.
> You
incorporate aspects of the culture/race/religion into your daily life.
>Become stronger
in what you believe.
> Having
an incredible experience with someone you love and respect.
>
Possibly learning a new language.
> Being
exposed to another country and learning about it.
>By
example teaching others around you that the relationship is like any other,
with challenges but worth it. A and that if you care what other people have to
say about your relationship and you stand by what you believe you can make it
through and continue to be a happe interracial couple.
My point is the
advantage of dating someone is actually experiencing possibly good, loving and compassionate
relationship, where you can grow with another person. Regardless of the race, if
you don’t have that kind of foundation in the marriage or relationship or even throughout
it, then you are seriously going to lose each other,.
Fanie
Fouries Loolais a fantastic and painfully honest dissection of South Africa.
Stereotypes
are being examined and blown apart, subcultures are parodied and both Zulu ad
Afrikaans cultures are put under the directors’ microscope. Running through the
film, the casual yet pervasive white South African culture and the distrust
that black South Africans often have for their white counterparts. The
discrepancy between the exclusive gated mostly white neighbourhoods and more
modest life in the townships will still tackled where relative wealth in the
townships will still yield les ostentatious lifestyles than that in the
suburbs.
I love that
Fanie and Dinky were just normal, down to earth South Africans, that there was
nothing special about either of them until they met each other. Eduan van Jaarsveld and Zethu Dhlomo are
superb in their roles as Fanie and Dinky. They out did their interpretation of
the interracial marriage and show case are free South Africa that is still
undergoing such circumstances.
I would recommend this movie for everyone. Its a must watch!!!
XoXo
**ZeReal_Cleo**
