Yesterday (2004)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Darrell Roodt

Writer:

Darrell Roodt (writer)

Release Date:

3 September 2004 (South Africa)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Powerless to change the past . . . She lived to change the future.

Plot:

After falling ill, Yesterday learns that she is HIV positive. With her husband in denial and young daughter to tend to, Yesterday's one goal is to live long enough to see her child go to school. |

Plot Keywords:

Hiv Positive | Hiv | Teacher | Flashback Sequence | Ostracism

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Kenneth Khambula	...	Yesterday's husband
Leleti Khumalo	...	Yesterday
Harriet Lenabe	...	Teacher
Lihle Mvelase	...	Beauty
Camilla Walker	...	Doctor

Directed by
Darrell Roodt

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Darrell Roodt		writer

Produced by
Sudhir Pragjee	....	executive producer
Anant Singh	....	producer
Sanjeev Singh	....	executive producer
Helena Spring	....	producer
Daphne Williams	....	line producer

Original Music by
Madala Kunene

Cinematography by
Michael Brierley

Film Editing by
Avril Beukes

Production Design by
Tiaan van Tonder

Costume Design by
Darion Hing

Production Management
Scott Michael Nabat	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Taryn Collister	....	second assistant director
Michael Swan	....	second unit director

Sound Department
Ivan Milborrow	....	sound mixer
Jim Petrak	....	adr recordist
Jeremy Saacks	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Christopher Dusendschon	....	digital imaging supervisor: iO FILM

Camera and Electrical Department
Robie Fivaz	....	key grip

Editorial Department
Rika Camizianos	....	assembly editor
Rika Camizianos	....	first assistant editor
Catherine Pantazopoulos	....	final colorist

Music Department
Christopher Landers	....	music editor

Other crew
Avril Beukes	....	script editor
Carin de Kock	....	assistant coordinator
Carol Kruger	....	key production accountant
Kristy Ryan	....	promotions manager: Australia
Rebecca Thornell	....	script clearance

Production Companies

• Distant Horizon
• Dv8
• Exciting Films
• HBO Films
• M-Net
• Nelson Mandela Foundation
• Videovision Entertainment

Distributors

• Eurocine (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmhouse (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical) (original subtitled version)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• HBO Films (2004) (USA) (all media)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive strong violence.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

South Africa

Language:

Zulu

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Mexico:B | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Company:

Distant Horizon

Trivia:

The "Lotto" that the woman discuss at the water pump is the South African version of the Lottery.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005) (TV)

A Hauntingly Beautiful Film From South Africa

YESTERDAY is a film that settles into your heart to remind us how treasureable life is. Few films made with such utter simplicity of focus have addressed a world crisis issue in the form of one couple than this and for that reason alone this film should be widely seen. But there are many other reasons to pay attention to this South African movie.

Yesterday (Leleti Khumalo) is an eloquently beautiful Zulu woman who discovers she has been infected with HIV from her coal miner husband (Kenneth Khambula). She confronts him with that fact and his response is embarrassed rage and physical abuse. Yesterday is concerned that her daughter live to attend school and have a chance at a better life. She is befriended by the school teacher (Harriet Lenabe) and by the doctor in whom she confides (Camilla Walker). Growing ill from AIDS, Yesterday's husband returns home and seeks Yesterday's succor and forgiveness on his deathbed. The power of Yesterday's spirit only grows stronger with every sad reality of her life: she is determined to stay alive until her daughter is safely in school and the future that transition promises.

Each of these actors provide astonishing performances, so delicately nuanced that they are able to pry open the heart. The majestically beautiful scenery of South Africa, with its mist-clothed mountains and far reaching stretches of horizons, plays an important role in this story: nature remains the guardian of mortals. Director and writer Darrell Roodt has a little masterpiece of a film here and one that deserves all of our attention. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp