Country: South Africa
Language: Xhosa
Year: 2005
Running Time: 120 min

U-CARMEN eKHAYELITSHA is a feature film based on Bizet’s nineteenth century opera filmed on location in a modern South African township setting. The energy, compassion and heat of township life in all its elements creates a constantly interesting and dynamic background for the unfolding of the story.  

The Carmen story owes part of its huge popularity to the thrilling combination of a violent gangster tale with a passionate almost supernatural love story. As it unfolds it explores issues of fame and wealth, the position of a strong and independently minded women in a very masculine society, and perhaps most importantly, the incomprehensible attraction between abuser and victim.

Bizet’s opera is based on Prosper Merimee’s novella and premiered in Paris on 3rd March 1875. Set in a poor area of Seville, the story of the magnetic woman who seduces, loves and ultimately destroys her lover and herself, is well known: Girl seduces boy, boy becomes obsessed, girl leaves boy for another, boy in a jealous rage kills her. Carmen’s mother-obsessed soldier lover who is displaced by the glamorous matador is one of the greatest tragic figures in all of musical theatre. But the story is her story. Why does she push her soldier into violence? Why doesn’t she escape at the last moment? What drives her to destruction?  

Although these fascinating aspects of human relationships are explored in a penetrating and at times uncomfortable way, this is no intellectual journey but a bawdy, passionate, vibrant tale with enormous warmth and heat and some of the greatest tunes ever written. The fantastic vitality and huge skill of the performers from Dimpho Di Kopane make an impact beyond that achieved by any filmed opera to date. The soundtrack, recorded by Dimpho Di Kopane with Imbumba, a young South African orchestra, combines Bizet’s score with traditional South African music creating a powerful musical experience.

Director	Mark Dornford-May
Music	Charles Hazlewood
Music Composer	Charles Hazlewood
Producer	Camilla Driver
Producer	Mark Dornford-May
Producer	Ross Garland
Associate Producer	Lucinda Englehart
Associate Producer	Tanya Wagner
Executive Producer	Ross Garland
Production Company	Spier Films
Screenplay	Andiswa Kedama
Screenplay	Mark Dornford-May
Screenplay	Pauline Malefane
Cinematography	Giulio Biccari
Art Director	Craig Smith
Choreographer	Joel Mthethwa
Editor	Ronelle Loots
Sound Design	Barry Donnelly
Sound Mixing	Simon Rice
Costume Designer	Jessica Dornford-May

Andile Kosi
Andile Tshoni
Andiswa Kedama
Andries Mbali
Bongani Bubu
Bongani Mbato
Dipuo Mogoregi
Ebenezer Sawuli
Fika Majola
Fikile Khuzwayo
Gracious Mbatha
Jim Ngxabaze
Joel Mthethwa
Lungelwa Blou
Lusindiso Dubula
Mpontseng Nyatsa
Mvakalisi Madotyeni
Mvuyisi Mjali
Mzukisi Gqadushe
Nandie Mahlangu
Nobapostile Msongelwa
Noluthando Boqwana
Ntobeko Rwanqa
Pauline Malefane
Portia Dladla
Ruby Mthethwa
Sanele Mohlomi
Sibulele Mjail
Sibusiso “Otto” Ziqubu
Sindiswa Mndela
Thandiwe Mesele
Thembela James
Thobeka Bede
Zamile Gantana
Zintle Mgole
Zoliswa Qumza
Zorro Sidloyi
Zukile Gqadushe

Winner Golden Bear Berlin,