Ster-Kinekor Distribution is releasing Karate Kallie (Afrikaans with English subtitles) in cinemas on 18 September 2009. It's described as a fresh new Afrikaans feel-good romantic comedy about a chubby, love-struck schoolboy victim of a psychotic bully. [video]
The movie is a spin-off of a short film, which developed something of a cult following from its frequent airings on M-Net since 2007. The short film also received numerous awards at film festivals and has spread as far as the DRC, Tanzania and Afghanistan.
Executive producer Charl Groenewald attributes the appeal of Karate Kallie to its universal themes - love, oppression, pride, respect - which cross gender, race, language and even national boundaries.
Karate Kallie - Die Hele Movie features Wynand van Vollenstee (Kallie); Mike Smuts as his brother Mike; Leani Lerm playing his love interest Annetjie; and Petrus Harmse in the role of bully Fritz. They are joined by several seasoned actors including Marga van Rooy, Ben Kruger, Henrietta Gryffenberg, Marhette van Huyssteen and Richard van der Westhuizen.
Karate expert Soon Pretorius also makes an appearance as himself, while newcomers Solomon Cupido and Carmilla Mosavel round off the cast.
Writer/director Wimpie van der Merwe graduated cum laude in 2006 with a B-Tech degree in scriptwriting and directing from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). This is his first full-length feature film.
The film will be available on DVD from Ster-Kinekor Home Entertainment in December.
