Die Wonderwerker (2012)

Die Wonderwerker tells the story of Eugène Marais, a famous Afrikaans writer, poet and researcher. The story focuses on the few months he spends on the Van Rooyen's farm, where he falls in love with the 19-year-old Jane Brayshaw.

Director:

Katinka Heyns

Writer:

Chris Barnard

Stars:

Dawid Minnaar, Elize Cawood, Marius Weyers

Cast

Cast overview:
Dawid Minnaar	...	Eugène Marais
Elize Cawood	...	Maria van Rooyen
Marius Weyers	...	Gys van Rooyen
Anneke Weidemann	...	Jane Brayshaw 1908
Erica Wessels	...	Jane Brayshaw 1934
Kaz McFadden	...	Adriaan van Rooyen
Sandra Kotzé	...	Hessie van Deventer (as Sandra Kotze)
Cobus Rossouw	...	Jos van Deventer
Rika Sennett	...	Mrs. Hotine
Amor Tredoux	...	Alice
Vaneshran Arumugam	...	Ebrahim Ravat
Lika Berning	...	Annie
Albert Pretorius	...	Hendrik (as Albertus Pretorius)

Storyline

Die Wonderwerker tells the story of Eugène Marais, a famous Afrikaans writer, poet and researcher. The story focuses on the few months he spends on the Van Rooyen's farm, where he falls in love with the 19-year-old Jane Brayshaw.

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Plot Keywords:

afrikaans | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

South Africa

Language:

Afrikaans English

Release Date:

7 September 2012 (South Africa)

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

South Africa's unsung genius

Like Katinka Heyn's other offerings, 'Die Wonderwerker' is a beautiful and romantic tale - deep in character study, poetic, and insightful. It is remarkable that this director has not received the acclaim she so completely deserves. Rising beyond politics and cheap effects, she has a way of entering into the spirit of the Afrikaans people, and through the portrayal of their inter-connectedness with the African countryside and way of life, she enters into the universal themes of yearning, unrequited passions, and love.

'Die Wonderwerker' is a marvel of movie-making. We enter into the heat and dust of an African farm, and yet always, feel saturated by its beauty. We are shown the impossibility of satisfaction in our desires, and yet we are left with a feeling for the naturalness of love.

If there is any part of you that loves poetry; if you are a lover of nature and life; if you can spend hours staring at the mystery of moonlight and the beauty of an open unhindered plain, then I urge you, see this beautiful movie.

And if, like me, you are left in a wide open space - emotional, expansive, and deeply fulfilled, then seek out Katinka Heyns' other magnificent offerings - "Paljas", and "Die storie van Klara Viljee". To my mind, she is South Africa's greatest film-maker, and easily the equal of any great film-maker to be found in the world.