MultiChoice has announced the production of My F*k, Marelize, a Namibian film inspired by Marelize Horn, who went viral after she rode her bike into a rugby pole in a 2019 video, Cape {town} Etc reports.
This was announced at the Silwerskerm Festival on Wednesday, with filming set to begin in Namibia this September and the film being inspired by the actual events that ‘led up to the iconic rugby pole incident’.
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The film will follow the accident-prone Marelize as she prepares to become an au pair in the Netherlands and her mother, Heidi, as she handles a cancer diagnosis, as reported by News24.
The script is penned by Safta-winning screenwriter Brett Michael Innes and will mark the feature debut of Zandré Coetzer, who is known for directing the South African hit series Dinge van ‘n Kind, which is based on Marita van der Vyver’s beloved YA novel.
‘The film is going to surprise everyone,’ said Innes.
‘When people think of a movie based on the phrase “my f*k, Marelize”, they’re probably expecting a slapstick comedy about a teenager who bumps into things all the time. The story of the Horn family has so much more depth than that, and we can’t wait to surprise viewers with it,’ Innes added.
‘This story is a celebration of life—a showcase of how our people in Namibia and South Africa greet every challenge with a joke and face it with laughter,’ said Coetzer.
‘I was fortunate to spend time with the Horn family, and witnessing their dynamic as a unit gave me such a clear vision for the film. As an Afrikaner, it is really special to be able to celebrate my language, culture and people in a story that speaks to our humour and way of doing life,’ Coetzer added.
My F*k, Marelize, is a Namibian and South African co-production and a collaboration between Windhoek-based producers Joel Haikali and Sophie Haikali from Joe Vision Productions and Nagvlug Films and Nostalgia Productions, both Cape Town production companies.
Paulo Areal rounds up the producing team, with financing from the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), kykNET Films, and MultiChoice Namibia.
‘kykNET is deeply rooted in Namibia, and we take great pride to be able to support not just any co-production with strong Namibian ties, but this one—a story full of pathos and humour with a unique local character,’ said Waldimar Pelser, M-Net channel director for premium channels.
‘This lively Namibia-South Africa co-production is a love letter to Windhoek life,’ said Haikali.
‘It celebrates our quirky Namibian charm and vibrant spirit with plenty of humour and our very own delicious flavour of Afrikaans. It’s a film for the entire family, and we are very excited to be a part of it,’ Haikali added.
‘It’s crazy how this keeps growing. When I got a random Facebook message from Brett last year about wanting to make a film about our family, I didn’t know quite what to expect. Now they’re about to start filming, and I can’t wait to see how our experience is brought to life,’ said Marelize Horn.
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Picture: marelize_horn_ / Instagram