The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (29 Mar. 2009)

A Botswanan woman starts up the country's first female-owned detective agency. Based on the series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith.

Director:

Anthony Minghella

Writers:

Richard Curtis (teleplay), Anthony Minghella (teleplay),

Stars:

Jill Scott, Anika Noni Rose, Lucian Msamati

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jill Scott	...	Precious Ramotswe
Anika Noni Rose	...	Grace Makutsi
Lucian Msamati	...	JLB Matekoni
Nikki Amuka-Bird	...	Alice Busang (as Nikki Amuka Bird)
Desmond Dube	...	BK
Tumisho Masha	...	Lucky Sesana
Bongeka Mpongwana	...	Happy Bapetsi
David Oyelowo	...	Kremlin Busang
John Kani	...	Daddy Bapetsi
Vusi Kunene	...	Doctor Gulubane
Harriet Lenabe	...	Mma Notshi (as Harriet Manamela)
Colin Salmon	...	Note Makoti
Idris Elba	...	Charlie Gotso
Lindani Nkosi	...	Hector Lepodise
Vasco Shoba	...	Obed Ramotswe

Storyline

After her father dies, Botswanan Precious Ramotse decides to sell her inheritance - 180 cows - and move to the capital Gaborone and open a detective agency. From a young age her father had trained her to develop her memory skills and she has a keen sense of observation. Business is slow, but Precious soon has a secretary, Grace Makutsi and fits in well with her neighbors. Slowly, clients begin to trickle in: a woman who thinks the man who claims to be her father - he had abandoned the family when she was just a young child - is actually an impostor; a woman who thinks her husband is having an affair - a view Grace enthusiastically generally supports since she thinks all men are liars and cheaters; and a factory owner who thinks an employee claiming compensation for an accident is scamming him. Her interest is also drawn to the case of a missing boy but she she must face a powerful local gangster to get the information she needs.

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Plot Keywords:

impostor | infidelity | black magic | kidnapping | cattle | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Family | Mystery

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Details

Official Sites:

BBC [United Kingdom]

Country:

UK South Africa Botswana USA

Language:

Tswana English

Release Date:

29 March 2009 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Gaborone, Botswana

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Afrika Worldwide, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Cinechicks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Grammy Award winning singer, Jill Scott, eventually won the role of Precious Ramotswe over American actresses Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Queen Latifah, and 18 African women considered for the lead

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Quotes

Grace Makutsi: [after meeting BK for the first time] That man is very much like a woman.

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Soundtracks

"Botswana wa Tsabakela"
(traditional)
Arranged by Gaolape A. Basuhi (as Gaolape Basuhi)
Licensed courtesy of Loao Cultural Company
Performed by The Mogwana Traditional Dance Group

User Reviews

This bodes very well for the forthcoming series.

I don't know whether the pace of life portrayed in this film is an accurate reflection of life in Botswana, but if it is then Botswana is a place I could live with no trouble at all. I found this a delightful programme, with some moving and touching scenes as well as a few totally hilarious moments. No doubt there will be criticism that it was too shallow, but in my opinion this was perfect holiday weekend viewing. It is a great pity that Anthony Minghella will not be around to carry on his work as the series progresses, and I can only hope that his successor remains constant to his principles. I look forward very much to the remainder of the series, although at the moment (Easter 2008) 2009 seems a long way off.