Ayanda finds her own Mechanic

Ahead of the Southern Africa cinema release, AfricAvenir presents the Namibian premiere of South Africa’s “Ayanda and the Mechanic”, directed by Sara Blecher (SA, 2015, ), on Saturday, 26 September, at the Goethe Centre.The premiere is financially assisted by the FNB Foundation.

In a vibrant and diverse Johannesburg community, 21-year-old Afro-hipster Ayanda has a knack for taking neglected pieces of furniture and “bringing them back to love”. Eight years after her father’s death, she is determined to revive his prized garage business, which is in deep debt and in danger of being sold. The film crackles with infectious energy and style, capturing a vividly contemporary view of South Africa. Inspired by the possibilities of a modern African aesthetic Ayanda explores the critical theme how we let go of the things and people we love.
Filmmaker Sara Blecher said “My vision for the film was to present a new kind of role model for young girls who are on the cusp of adulthood, much like the 2007 Canadian-American film JUNO did in its portrayal of a precocious teen. I wanted to tell a story that would allow them to consider new options and possibilities for their own lives. I wanted to showcase a successful, young woman, an entrepreneur, who manages to navigate her way through the grease and garages that typically define a man’s world. And one who does so without having to compromise her own passion, originality or style.”
“Being the mother of one such girl, Ayanda is my love letter to African girls in their early twenties. There has not yet been any successful local content, be it film or television, that deals intelligently with the 20-something African woman. It is a crucial time for a young woman to make decisions about who she wants to be in the world and this story hopes to present different possibilities to her, that are outside of the norm.”
Ayanda had its world premiere in Los Angeles on 13 June. There it won the Special Jury Prize at the prestigious Los Angeles Film Festival (LAFF), following its screening in the World Fiction Competition. African Perspectives, a monthly African Cinema series organised by AfricAvenir, is supported by AfriCine, JacMat, the Franco Namibian Cultural Centre, the Goethe Centre/Nads, Turipamwe Designs and the FNB Foundation.

 

When: Saturday, 26 September 2015 at 19:00
Where: Goethe Centre, 1 Fidel Castro Street, Windhoek
Entry: N$40
Director: Sara Blecher
Screenplay: Trish Malone
Producers: Busi Sezani, Terry Pheto, Robbie Thorpe
Cast: Fulu Mugovhani, OC Ukeje, Nthati Moshesh, Kenneth Nkosi, Thomas Gumede, Jafta Mamabolo, Sihle Xaba, Vanessa Cooke
Music: Tiago Correia-Paulo
Language: Original with English subtitles