First Afrikaans musical film in 30 years

The film was conceptualised in 2008 by producer and director of photography Paul Krüger and scriptwriter Christa van der Walt when they discovered that the last Afrikaans musical had been produced in 1980. "With the huge popularity of Afrikaans music and the enormous variety of what is available, it was clear that there was a gap in the market for a film that would bring the best songs and the best talent together," said Krüger. "Once we got experienced producer Linda Korsten on board we knew we had a winner on our hands."

Gé Korsten's hit

Taking its name from tenor Gé Korsten's evergreen and hugely popular song Liefling (Sweetheart in English), the film tells the story of Liefling Marais, an adventure-loving young girl with a passion for life. She lives on a farm in Hartbeespoort with her family. Her father is a professor at the university and in his class are three friends: Jan, Pieter and Gert, who also live on the outskirts of the city in Hartbeespoort. It's the December holidays and Jan, a civil engineering student raised by his grandmother, has his eye on Liefling, but spoilt little rich girl Melanie has other plans up her sleeve. Fate intervenes and brings lovers, friends and enemies together in a musical celebration that will have audiences laughing, crying and singing along.

"One of the biggest challenges was getting the music right," said Korsten. "Musical director Johan Heystek has done a superb job with the arrangements. It was wonderful to see the singers and songs become one." Tracks include Kinders Van Die Wind, Mamma, Ek Wil 'N Man Hê, Ek Lewe, Hoeka Toeka and Katryn, Katryn.

Stars

Liefling is played by popular stage and television star Lika Berning, who has appeared in Known Gods, Interrogation Room, Feast of the Uninvited and Shooting Stars on television. She is currently in Binnelanders and also starred in the feature film The Bang Bang Club opposite Ryan Phillipe.

One of South Africa's most popular young artists, Bobby van Jaarsveld, takes on the role of Jan. He's a real gentleman with good manners and a genuine desire to help people. Van Jaarsveld released a CD at the end of 2009 featuring the hit Spieëltjie, which is performed in the film.

Liefling is directed by multi-award winning actor and director Brian Weber, who is also the co-founder of the Fortune Cookie Theatre Company. Also appearing in the film are Kurt Darren, South Africa's best-selling artist in 2009, and well-loved female vocalists Sonja Herholdt who plays Liefling's mother Linda, Anna Davel and Carike Keuzenkamp, who plays herself in a delightful cameo. But it doesn't end there. Liefling's grandfather is played by famous opera singer Rouel Beukes, who let Jan's grandmother, the ever popular Elize Cawood, slip through his fingers when he was a young man.

The cast also features Alwyn Swart, Sylvaine Strike, Paul du Toit, Clementine Mosimane, Kevin Leo, Porteus Xandau, Jaco Muller, Monique Nortje, Willem Botha, Gert Wolmarans, Zenande Mfenyane, Lousie Moodie, Shaleen Tobin, and newsreader Riaan Cruywagen.