Makgano Mamabolo and Lodi Matsetela have created a story that captivates South Africans each week as we watched last year and were taken into the lives of four high school friends who are reunited when their fifth friend commits suicide. We loved the characters, the storyline and how the story was told that fans begged for more. The second season started a couple of weeks ago and STILL mesmerizes us.
Well, the first season was adapted into an hour-long film focusing on Beth’s coming out of the closet journey and has been shown all over the world (Cannes, Brazil, etc) for the past 2 years on the Gay and Lesbian Film Festivals. I sat down with the creators to find out how the story came about – I loved how Makgano’s passion shines through as she explains that the black stories need to be told, and who is supposed to tell the stories? We need to tell our stories.
Makgano Mamabolo and Lodi Matsetela
What is the inspiration for the creators and how did they create these characters? They swear that the characters are a combination of people that are or were in their lives, and some fiction. No single character is one person; they combined fiction and some reality to create the characters. As the characters come to life with the brilliant acting of Zandile Msutwana (Akua), Lele Ledwaba(Inno), Samantha Tyelbooi(Louis) and Sibulele Gcilitshana (Beth); they see and learn something new about the characters. They keep wondering where the characters will go next.
The leading characters
The most intriguing for both the creators is Louis; what she is going through and how she also doesn’t know what is happening to her. She is a staunch feminist with dreams and is finding it hard to just conform to what society expects; her turmoil, experiences, her beliefs about herself and uncertainty about the life she lives is a very powerful journey. Mandla (Pepi Khambule) is a supporting role but just as entwined in their lives and has to be dragged on Louis journey. He needs to be loved and is confused about what he is doing wrong to not get the love he craves. Makgano plays the part of their marriage counselor.
Inno has been the most fun character to write, says Makgano. I asked if her love for money is creating chaos in her life and Makgano answered “It’s a question you can ask a lot of people? But she craves to be a success, to be seen a success and she needs to be happy”. I agreed. Inno is the most fun to watch – Lele just brings her to life so well!
Akua has the success, the perfect career; can afford the best in life but craves that home feeling of a husband and a family but they elude her. Her journey takes her through pains of relationships. I asked about my favourite scene this past week when she has a meltdown in a restaurant and attacks her one night stand Lekaukau in a tirade. AND I had to agree with Makgano when she said “It happens. Even as unreal as it looked, it happens.” All those ladies who had similar experiences say Aye…
If there was one character that they would expand into a movie, which one would it be? They love all the characters and would like to document each with a movie. A part of Beth’s journey is already been shown all over the world with the film we saw yesterday – but they would love to extend all of them.
As much as Beth is misunderstood and people draw all sorts of conclusions about her and her personal life; she feels that no-one has to declare to the world that “I am straight!” but why is a microscope always glared on homosexual relationships that they are forced to declare it to the world. As much as heterosexual relationships are given the privacy and respect they deserve as a given, so should homosexual relationships and she doesn’t need to do anything to get those. BUT she finds the world intrigued and wanting her to do more than what heterosexual people need to do to be accepted. She just wants her life with her partner Thuli (Ferry Jele) to be treated as normal as any relationship.
Ferry Jele - Beth's partner
I asked about Thuli’s family acceptance and how some of y’all felt that it was exaggerated. Makgano answered simply by saying “We needed to show a different side of what life is like when families have reached acceptance”. I personally loved that scene and felt that it was not exaggerated in any way because if Thuli was a guy – that reaction would have been considered very normal, why should it feel exaggerated when she is lesbian? Yes, Black families – well, all families - with homosexual siblings struggle with understanding their sexuality but it doesn’t mean that some do not get to that stage of acceptance, support and love.
Pepi Khambule - Louis Husband
I would personally love to see Louis’ tale. They also feel that Louis is very misunderstood and people are very curious about her because the question that comes up over and over again is “why doesn’t she want this life? She has a great husband, they are successful in their own rights and they now have a child. Everything that most women want, right?” BUT NO! Not ALL women want the family and the child and she doesn’t know either if she wants this conformed life society expects.
Another thing is she could be depressed and she hasn’t realized it or been diagnosed. In reality, most black people somehow think depression is a myth – a white man’s disease or an excuse to act crazy. Post-natal depression and depression are real and exist. BUT people will cruelly expect someone in this state to “snap out of it” and it takes years and years of medication and counseling to be able to get by and get some semblance of a normal life.
None of them would divulge what happens to the characters – not even a sneak – so we have to watch the episodes and see what life has in store for Akua, Inno, Louis and Beth; AND of course, Louis’ current relationship with Mandla and Beth’s relationship with Thuli.