"The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Anthony Minghella

Writers (WGA):

Richard Curtis (teleplay) &
Anthony Minghella (teleplay) ...
(more)

TV Series:

"The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" (2008)

Original Air Date:

23 March 2008 (Season 1, Episode 0)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Mystery

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Infidelity | Cattle | Blood Transfusion | Kidnapping | Imposter

Cast

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
Kabelo Thai	...	Solomon Moretsi
Percy Matsemela	...	Kenosi (as Percy Matemela)
Tau Maserumule	...	Apprentice 1 (as Tau Maseramula)
Thabo Malema	...	Apprentice 2
Tshepo Maphanyane	...	Loretta
Shombi Ellis	...	Sister Kgomotso
Brendan Kupa	...	Thobiso Morapedi
Motsheresanyi Sefanyetso	...	Ernest Morapedi
Kudrah Alabi	...	Little Precious Ramotswe
Khudaga Kagiso	...	Mochudi Chief
Kgomotso Delia Tshwenyego	...	Post Office Customer (as Kgomotso D. Tshwenyego)
Karabo Mpai	...	Lily
Pascar Proctor	...	Taxi Driver
Sandiswe Mdiza	...	Boy
Vuyisele Otukile	...	Estate Agent (as Vusiele Otukile)
Rebagamang Sekgekge	...	Auctioneer
Sapphire Seeletso	...	Beautiful Town Girl 1
Mpho Pheko	...	Beautiful Town Girl 2
Keeletsang Pelaelo	...	Beautiful Town Girl 3
Seingwaeng Kgafela	...	Woman Searcher
Ikanyeng Dipatane	...	Kitty
Pauline Mana Letsatle	...	Journalist (as Pauline Letsatle)
Thatayaone Mongwedisle	...	The Accused
Losika 'Luzboy' Seboni	...	The Accuser (as Losika Seboni)
Kgosi Goodwill	...	Funky Sign Writer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Winston Ntshona	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Anthony Minghella

Writing credits (WGA)
Richard Curtis		(teleplay) &
Anthony Minghella		(teleplay)
Alexander McCall Smith		(novel)

Produced by
Steve E. Andrews	....	associate producer
Tim Bricknell	....	producer (as Timothy Bricknell)
Richard Curtis	....	executive producer
Vlokkie Gordon	....	line producer
Anthony Minghella	....	producer
Amy J. Moore	....	producer
Sydney Pollack	....	executive producer
Bob Weinstein	....	executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	executive producer
David Wicht	....	producer: Film Afrika

Original Music by
Gabriel Yared

Cinematography by
Seamus McGarvey		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Lisa Gunning

Casting by
Michelle Guish
Richard Hicks
Moonyeenn Lee
David Rubin

Production Design by
Johnny Breedt

Art Direction by
Vivienne Gray

Set Decoration by
Melinda Launspach

Costume Design by
Jo Katsaras

Makeup Department
Benson David	....	hair assistant
Kerry Skelton	....	hair stylist
Kerry Skelton	....	makeup artist
Megan Tanner	....	key hair stylist (as Meg Tanner)
Megan Tanner	....	key makeup artist (as Meg Tanner)

Production Management
Clare Maclean	....	post-production supervisor
Jeff Maynard	....	executive in charge of post-production
Tina Oswald	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve E. Andrews	....	first assistant director
Annelize Bosch	....	second assistant director
Zolani Phakade	....	third assistant director
David Tumahole	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Vernon Breedt	....	construction supervisor
Clive Derrocks	....	construction foreman
Katrina Dunn	....	stand-by art director
Cuan Eveleigh	....	stand-by props
Ivan Fraser	....	set dresser/buyer
Clint Gordon	....	greens foreman
Mitch Gordon	....	greens foreman
Nick Lauer	....	construction manager
Fish Madiabaso	....	art department runner
Thabiso Maretlwaneng	....	props assistant
Arlo Markantonatos	....	props buyer
George Ndlovu	....	set dressing leadman
David Ngwenya	....	assistant set dressing buyer
Andrew Orlando	....	props master
Michael Rossouw	....	set dressing assistant
Mustikim Salie	....	construction foreman
Maria Siebert	....	set dresser/standby
Allison Tucker	....	art department coordinator
Cecelia van Straaten	....	assistant art director (as Cecelia Van Straaten)
David Wynne-Roberts	....	scenic painter

Sound Department
Martin Cantwell	....	sound designer
Simon Chase	....	adr editor
Carol Jones	....	head of operations
Alex Joseph	....	foley editor
Eddy Joseph	....	supervising sound editor
Nico Louw	....	production sound mixer
Dikgang Ngcobo	....	second boom operator
Colin Ritchie	....	dialogue editor
Bertrand Roets	....	boom swinger
Ceri Thomas	....	assistant sound editor
Simon Jones	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Scott Millan	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Mike Prestwood Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Rachael Tate	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Willie Botha	....	puppet fabrication (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Zachary Bloom	....	hd scanning and recording: Framestore
Zachary Bloom	....	scanning and recording: Framestore
Paul Burke	....	scanning and recording: Framestore
Andy Burrow	....	scanning & recording manager
Primo De Santis	....	digital effects artist
Adam Glasman	....	colourist
Yan Jennings	....	film mastering engineer
James Long	....	data operator: Framestore CFC
Kevin Lowery	....	film mastering engineer
Veronica Marcano	....	scanning & recording operator: Framestore
Petr Masek	....	digital compositor
Tomas Munzar	....	digital compositor: UPP
Andrea Pirisi	....	digital intermediate conform editor
James Reed	....	scanning and recording
Gavin Round	....	DI producer: Framestore-CFC )
Jimmy Saul	....	scanning and recording operator
Jakub Szilvasi	....	digital compositor
Massimo Cipollina	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Richard Edwards	....	data operator: Framestore CFC (uncredited)
Mai Gray	....	retouch and restoration: Framestore-CFC (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Keith Bernstein	....	still photographer
Giulio Biccari	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Giulio Biccari	....	director of photography: second unit
Carlos De Carvalho	....	focus puller: "a" camera
Sarel Eloff	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Allan Gray	....	grip
Andrew Green	....	rigger
Bernin Isaac	....	loader: "a" camera
Rocky Johnson	....	grip
Xito Kuazangogo	....	video tape operator
Andrew Maccallum	....	best boy electric
Jade Maxwell Newton	....	loader: "b" camera
Wellington Mchunu	....	sparks
Moabi Mogorosi	....	crew: BPK
Meshack Molope	....	sparks
Julious Mudeh	....	darkroom loader
Zak 'Ebenezzer' O'Leary	....	dolly grip (as Zak O'Leary)
Nick Rankin	....	gaffer
J.P. Ridgeway	....	key grip
Dan Sigobongo	....	grip
Jaco van Niekerk	....	key rigger (as Jaco Van Niekerk)
Hermie Venter	....	rigger
Moegamad Yezeed Williams	....	generator operator
Adi Visser	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Gayle Keller	....	casting consultant
Pauline Mana Letsatle	....	casting assistant
Mickie Paskal	....	casting consultant (as Mickie Pascal)
Pascar Proctor	....	extras casting
Pascar Proctor	....	local casting
Jennifer Rudnicke	....	casting consultant
Andrew Shand	....	extras casting
Kelly Sorinyane	....	casting assistant
Eddie Dunlop	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kgomotso Dipsholo	....	costume stand-by
Glynnis Harris	....	wardrobe buyer
Donna Kisogloo	....	key costume stand-by
Mpho Kuaho	....	wardrobe assistant
Jabulile Maselani	....	wardrobe assistant (as Jabulile {Baby} Maselani)
Zureta Schulz	....	wardrobe supervisor
Chantelle Van Der Merwe	....	wardrobe assistant
Donna Kisogloo	....	set costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Kerri Aungle	....	film data manager
Layla Blackman	....	post-production coordinator (as Layla Evans)
Serkan Nihat	....	assistant editor
Katie Weiland	....	second editor
Chris Andrews	....	negative cutter (uncredited)
Sabine McDonald	....	negative cutter (uncredited)
Louise Mycielski	....	post-production coordinator: South Africa (uncredited)
Kelly Smith	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Guy Barker	....	composer: additional music
Gaolape A. Basuhi	....	traditional song & dance consultant
Mike Gillespie	....	music supervisor
Allan Jenkins	....	music editor
Solomon B. Monyame	....	music supervisor
Lewis Morison	....	assistant to composer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Colin Breedt	....	picture vehicle coordinator
Russell Delport	....	transportation co-captain (as Russel Delport)
Laurie Dunn	....	unit and transport manager
Tarryn Greybè	....	unit and transport coordinator (as Tarryn Greybe-Dunn)
Mark Hardy	....	transportation captain
Kenny Tshenyego	....	picture vehicle assistant coordinator

Other crew
Linda Abbott	....	post-production accountant
Riaz Arbi	....	assistant: Mr Minghella & Mr Bricknell, Botswana
Thuli Baloyi	....	production assistant
Alexis Bell	....	assistant: Miss Scott
Charmaine Bell	....	travel coordinator
Bakang Buloi	....	cultural advisor
Militza Bunce	....	production coordinator
Punie Casalis	....	production assistant
Karen Cattini	....	assistant: Mr Minghella
Jane Corden	....	financial controller
Dianne Dreyer	....	script supervisor
Clinton du Preez	....	unit basecamp captain (as Clinton Du Preez)
Deon Du Preez	....	location manager
Gareth Hughes	....	assistant to line producer
Simphiwe Jodwana	....	unit on-set assistant
Kgomotso Keloneilwe	....	set runner
Jaco Le Roux	....	payroll administrator
Mmaphala Letsatle	....	stand-in
Desma Majola	....	stand-in
Lynn Matthysen	....	caterer
Patricia Mokhutshwane	....	accounting assistant
Ndipo Mokoka	....	coordinator: Botswana
Leano Monagen	....	production assistant
Diana Nkata	....	assistant production coordinator: JHB
Delizwe Nxumalo	....	petty cash administrator
Bernice Purdam	....	assistant travel coordinator
Onkemetse Ramatu	....	location assistant
Fiona Ramsey	....	dialogue coach (as Fiona Ramsay)
Donovan Roberts-Baxter	....	production coordinator: JHB (as Donovan Robert Baxter)
John Rogers	....	assistant location manager
Joy Sapieka	....	unit publicist
Tumi Sejoe	....	set runner
Molebedi Sorinyane	....	production secretary
Peter Spiropoulos	....	safety officer
Olly Steele	....	armorer
Michelle ten Haaf	....	production accountant (as Michelle Ten Haaf)
Kgomotso Delia Tshwenyego	....	dialogue coach: Botswana (as Kgomotso D. Tshwenyego)
Lunghi Zondi	....	assistant production coordinator

Thanks
Anthony Minghella	....	in memory of

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phil Jones	....	scheduling assistant director

Camera and Electrical Department
Nick Wall	....	still photographer (2009) (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Film Afrika Worldwide (uncredited)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (present) (as BBC)
• Mirage Enterprises (as A Mirage Enterprises and Cinechicks Production)
• Weinstein Company, The (present) (in association with)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2008) (UK) (TV) (original airing) (BBC 1)
• Atlantic Film (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2008) (USA) (TV)

Special Effects

• Frame By Frame (visual effects by)

Other Companies

• Airside  titles design by
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances (uncredited)
• Film Afrika Worldwide  location services (uncredited)
• Framestore CFC  digital grade (as Framestore-CFC)
• Government and People of the Republic of Botswana, The  thanks (as the Government and People of the Republic of Botswana)
• IndieClear  script clearance (uncredited)
• Lynne Matthysen Catering  catering (uncredited)
• Sapex Scripts  post-production services
• Soundelux  sound editorial by (as Soundelux)
• Soundelux  sound post-production
• Todd-AO Studios  re-recorded at (as Todd Ao Lantana)
• UK Computamatch  film data management

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK | South Africa

Language:

Tswana | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Filming Locations:

Gaborone, Botswana

Company:

Film Afrika Worldwide

Trivia:

10ft electrified fences surrounded most sets to protect cast and crew from animal attack.

Soundtrack:

Botswana wa Tsabakela

Anthony Minghella works his magic

What a great surprise to see how Anthony Minghella has made this movie in Botswana with Jill Scott in staring role as the Lady detective. The casting is perfect. The colours of Botswana are truly beautiful and the country might really be the star of the film. Superb photography by Seamus McGarvey who also did Atonement.

This is a simple story really bought to life with a host of talent. A child, a little girl, taught be her father to be observant, retain a good memory, look after others, goes to live in the town after her fathers death to set up the first detective agency in Botswana to be run by a lady. She then goes about finding clients and solving their problems. During the story the viewer is treated to some great shots of wildlife and the wonderful Botswana colours & country side. An endearing film not to missed. The sad part of the story is that Anthony Minghella is no longer with us & we will not see his like again. Barriebrdc.