Plot Summary
The film is set in Toorwater, a quiet and conservative town in the Karoo region of South Africa. The town is dominated by the railway station, where most of the men work. The main characters are the members of the Smit family: Boetie (Marius Weyers), a respected farmer and railway worker; Katrien (Aletta Bezuidenhout), his fragile wife who suffers from depression; Japie (Morné Visser), their teenage son who loves telling jokes; and Frikkie (Liezel van der Merwe), their young daughter who is terminally ill.
The film begins with Boetie being accused of killing a man in a fight. He claims self-defense, but nobody believes him. The town turns against him and his family, and they are shunned and harassed. Katrien becomes more withdrawn and isolated, and Japie has to take care of Frikkie, who is dying from leukemia. Boetie decides to leave the town and find work elsewhere, hoping to clear his name and return to his family.
One night, a circus train loses its way and stops at Toorwater. The townspeople are curious and excited by the sight of the exotic animals and performers. Among them is Manuel (David S. Lee), a clown who speaks no Afrikaans or English. He wanders off from the train and finds his way to the Smit's house, where he meets Japie and Frikkie. They are fascinated by him and his magic tricks, and they invite him to stay with them. Manuel brings joy and laughter to the children, and also helps Katrien to cope with her sadness. He becomes a friend and a protector to the family, who are still ostracized by the town.
However, Manuel also poses a threat to the town's order and stability. He is seen as an outsider, a troublemaker, and a possible criminal. The townspeople are suspicious and hostile towards him, especially the railway workers, who fear that he might sabotage their trains. The town's priest (Ian Roberts) tries to mediate between Manuel and the town, but he also faces resistance from his superiors, who want him to condemn Manuel as a sinner. The tension escalates when Manuel performs at Frikkie's birthday party, which is attended by some of the town's children. He entertains them with his jokes and tricks, but he also exposes some of the town's secrets and hypocrisies.
The film reaches its climax when Manuel is accused of stealing a valuable necklace from one of the circus performers. He is arrested by the police, who plan to take him away on the next train. Japie tries to prove his innocence, but he is too late. He runs after the train, hoping to say goodbye to Manuel, but he falls and injures himself. Manuel sees him from the train window and jumps off, risking his own life to save Japie. He carries him back to the Smit's house, where he is greeted by Boetie, who has returned after being cleared of his charges. Boetie thanks Manuel for saving his son and for helping his family. He offers him a place to stay with them, but Manuel declines. He says that he has to go back to his circus family, but that he will always remember them. He leaves them with a gift: a paljas (a wooden puppet) that resembles him. He walks away into the night, as Japie watches him with tears in his eyes.
Cast
Marius Weyers as Boetie Smit
Aletta Bezuidenhout as Katrien Smit
Morné Visser as Japie Smit
Liezel van der Merwe as Frikkie Smit
David S. Lee as Manuel
Ian Roberts as Dominee
Ellis Pearson as Hendrik
Larry Leyden as Oom Gert
Gérard Rudolf as Piet
Marthinus Basson as Karel
Production
Paljas was written by Chris Barnard, a renowned Afrikaans author and journalist. He based the story on his own childhood memories of growing up in the Karoo, and on his fascination with circus trains. He also drew inspiration from the classic Italian film La Strada (1954), directed by Federico Fellini, which also features a clown as a central character. Barnard wrote the screenplay in both Afrikaans and English, and he collaborated with Katinka Heyns, his wife and director of the film.
The film was produced by Heyns's company, Sonneblom Films, with the support of the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, the Department of Arts and Culture, and the South African Broadcasting Corporation. The film had a budget of R6 million (about $1 million at the time), making it one of the most expensive South African films ever made. The film was shot on location in the Karoo, using authentic railway stations and trains from the 1960s. The film also employed local people as extras and crew members, providing them with training and income.
The film's title, Paljas, means "clown" or "fool" in Afrikaans. It is also the name of the wooden puppet that Manuel gives to Japie at the end of the film. The puppet symbolizes Manuel's spirit and legacy, as well as the bond between him and Japie. The puppet was designed by Marthinus Basson, who also played Karel in the film. Basson is a renowned theatre director and designer, who has won several awards for his work.
Reception
Paljas was released in South Africa on 14 February 1998. It received critical acclaim and popular success, becoming one of the highest-grossing South African films of all time. It won several awards at various film festivals, including the FIPRESCI Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, and the Best Film Award at the Cairo International Film Festival. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1998, becoming the first and only South African film to receive this nomination.
The film was praised for its powerful story, its beautiful cinematography, its authentic portrayal of the Karoo culture and landscape, and its excellent performances by the cast. Marius Weyers, who played Boetie, was especially lauded for his role as a man who is torn apart by his actions and his guilt. He won several awards for his performance, including the Best Actor Award at the Cairo International Film Festival. David S. Lee, who played Manuel, was also commended for his role as a clown who brings joy and hope to a broken family. He learned to speak Afrikaans for the film, and he performed his own stunts.
The film was also hailed as a milestone in South African cinema history, as it represented a new era of post-apartheid filmmaking. The film addressed complex issues such as racism, violence, poverty, and reconciliation, without being preachy or sentimental. The film also showcased the diversity and richness of South African culture and language, as it featured dialogue in Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho, Tswana, and Portuguese.
Where to Watch
Paljas is available to watch online on various platforms such as [Yidio], [123Movies], and [IMDb]. However, these platforms may not have subtitles for non-English speakers. The film is also available on DVD and Blu-ray from various online retailers such as [Amazon] and [eBay]. The DVD and Blu-ray versions have subtitles in English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, Portuguese, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Greek and Turkish. The DVD and Blu-ray versions also have bonus features such as a making-of documentary, a commentary by the director and the writer, and a photo gallery.
Conclusion
Paljas is a South African film that tells a moving and inspiring story of a family that is healed by the presence of a clown. The film showcases the beauty and diversity of South Africa, as well as the challenges and opportunities that it faces in the post-apartheid era. The film is a masterpiece of South African cinema, and a must-watch for anyone who loves drama, comedy, and magic.
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