- Charlie Vundla's third feature film, Hotel on The Koppies is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
- Former Generations: The Legacy actor Moopi Mothibeli makes a leading man debut in the drama.
- Hotel on The Koppies has already won international film awards and nabbed numerous nominations.
Former Generations: The Legacy actor Moopi Mothibeli makes his leading man debut in Hotel on The Koppies.
The film written, directed, and produced by Charlie Vundla, the son of veteran producer Mfundi Vundla, is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
The drama has won the Best Film prize at the Sabira Cole Film Festival and was nominated for three Africa Movie Academy Awards: Best Film in an African Language, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Cameron Scott) and Best Soundtrack (Caminauta & Raul Tizze).
"This is a dream come true. When my collaborators and I set out to make this film during the hard lockdown of 2020, we became this creative, scrappy, problem-solving family. I made this film with my friends and family. And now, to take it worldwide on such a magnificent platform is something everyone who took part in it can be very proud of," said Vundla.
The film centres on Jabu (Mothibeli), an ambitious novelist who has been sober for three months following a stint in rehab. He joins the jury of a Johannesburg film festival to be closer to his son and become the father he has yet to be. Roxanne (Zethu Dlomo-Mphahlele), an aspiring filmmaker on the verge of her international breakthrough, must make a critical decision regarding her unwanted pregnancy — one with dire legal ramifications in South Africa.
The film also stars Zoe Mthiyane, Celeste Khumalo, Cameron Scott and Buntu Petse.
A shot in the dark
Speaking to Channel24, shortly after the film premiered on the streaming service, Mothibeli is excited about the international exposure. Mothibeli is best known for his role as Samangaliso on Generations: The Legacy.
"Making this film was a shot taken in the dark. We knew very little about the outcome; we were content to have the moment. And the privilege of work.
"Seeing it premiere on Amazon Prime is a whole lot more than what most of us could have imagined. At least for me. I am just full of gratitude for the experience and blessed to have been a part of it," said the actor.
On how he got the role the actor said that he got a call from Vundla when the lockdown had the industry on ice.
"Not much work was going around. So obviously, I was beside myself. I had briefly worked with Charlie on Generations: The Legacy. The idea that he had in mind for a role in his movie brought me great honour," said Mothibeli.
"Initially, he had suggested me for a bit part in the film, of which I was eager to play. It didn't matter in which capacity I would participate — I was just happy to step in the ring again. I prepped for the part and after doing a chemistry read over zoom, he informed me about an idea of me possibly playing one of the leads instead. However, the catch was that this meant an even shorter turnaround prep time for me, as the starting shoot date was soon approaching. We both took a leap of faith," said the actor.
Mothibeli described how Vundla had written and directed a movie considering the short turnaround time.
"The challenging part was that we shot the whole thing within a fortnight. With the exception of a few days off, I was on set most of the time. It was a jam-packed schedule with little to no prep time and high-stakes scenes — an actor's equivalent to freebase jumping. With Charlie being the last minute chute popping open when you most need it."
The cast and crew of the film shot the production during the hard Covid-19 lockdown and worked meticulously to get the movie to international standards.
"Shooting during hard lockdown was quite a surreal experience. We shot during a time when the fear was still very much palpable. Going out in public was considered high risk. I was scared to catch 'it', but like most people, I needed to make some sort of a living.
"We are talking pre-vaccination days, where regular hand washing was still best practice. I did not know how to manoeuvre around people, and this 'thing.' The imaging of the virus on TV did not help at all. But set protocols were well established. Both crew and cast were receptive to newly laid rules. The short of it, despite being fearful of the virus, I was really happy to be working again. I thought it a great privilege to be back on set after months of uncertainty during the hard lockdown", said Mothibeli.
The drama was initially titled Hotele Lerallaneng and was the only South African Feature Film at the 2021 festival, which takes place in January and February every year in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
The film has also been part of the official selection at the Garden Route International Film Festival, the Bushwick Film Festival, the Cucalorus Film Festival and the Golden Rooster Film Festival.