Welcome to What’s Hot On The Screen, a weekly round-up of some of the new and interesting releases in the world of online, film and television; based in South Africa.
Streaming Highlights Include:
Living with Kelly Khumalo – Showmax
This Thursday found Showmax dropping the first six episodes of Kelly Khumalo’s highly anticipated reality series, Living with Kelly Khumalo. Living With Kelly Khumalo provides viewers with a unique and personal window into the best-selling vocalist’s inner-life as a single mother, juggling parenting, the release of her The Voice of Africa album as well as her first gin, titled Controversy. Within the first two episodes, we get some behind-the-scenes insights into the recording process of her album as well as trying to navigate how to tell her youngest daughter, Thingo, that her father’s passed on.
Anelka: Misunderstood – Netflix
From one highly controversial figure to another, one of Netflix’s new releases this week is a documentary focusing on one of soccer’s more turbulent figures in Anelka: Misunderstood. Anelka: Misunderstood is a documentary that explores the difficulties Anelka faced during his career including his scandals from the 2010 World Cup to his club experiences, putting the famed French figure front and centre to tell his side of the story.
Ma – Showmax
One of the movies now available for local-streaming is the psychological horror led by Octavia Spencer, Ma. Ma follows Sue-Ann, a lonely middle-aged woman, who befriends some teenagers and decides to let them party in the basement of her home. But soon her hospitality turns into an obsession as what began as a teenage dream becomes a terrorizing nightmare as Ma’s place goes from the best place in town to the worst place on Earth.
Immigration Nation – Netflix
Finally on streaming, Netflix has a brand-new docu-series offering a uniquer view of the ongoing struggles in America’s broken immigration system, Immigration Nation. The series consists of footage filmed from 2017 to 2020 of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s, more commonly known as ICE, work during the Trump Era. The documentary gives harrowing insights into some of the tactics the agency has employed during this ever-tumultuous era, and has found the filmmakers on the receiving end of legal threats from the immigration agency.
Broadcast Highlights
Mpho Pops Primetime This Weekend
This weekend proves to be a big one for this premier comedian as Mpho Popps takes over Mzansi Magic’s primetime slots this Saturday and Sunday with the premiere of Black in My Day on Saturday and a prime-time airing of award-winning Thina Sobabili on Sunday.
Black in My Day (08 August) on Mzansi Magic
Black in My Day is the latest comedy special by the popular comedian, based on a tour of the same name that commemorated 10 years in comedy for Modikoane. The comedy special has been touted as a nostalgic trip down memory lane of how Modikoane grew up and all the experiences that have brought him to the point of success he is at today. It is a play on what life
was like back in the day as a black man and navigating those challenges as one of the first generations to rise into South Africa’s burgeoning middle class.
Thina Sobabili (09 August) on Mzansi Magic
The multi-hyphenate also thrives Sunday night as the executive-producer and starring actor in Thina Sobabili. Thina Sobabili served as South Africa’s official entry for the 2016 Academy Awards and is a gripping depiction of contemporary Kasi living with a stand-out performance from Thato Dhladhla. The movie follows Thulas and Zanele’s brother-sister relationship. Thulas will do anything to protect his sister after witnessing her abuse as a child. As a result, the two share a very strained relationship and when Zanele finally falls for the charms of an older man, Thulas is determined to protect his sister by putting an end to their relationship. A decision that will cost him everything and prove to his sister how much he really loves her.
Bombshell on M-Net
Finally, airing on M-Net this Sunday Night is the explosive Oscar-winning piece Bombshell. Based on real events, Bombshell explores the stories of the three Fox News anchorwomen who set out to expose the then-CEO, Roger Ailes, for sexual harassment in what has been one of the most defining moments within the MeToo movement. Starring Oscar-nominated performances by Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie.
Next Gen Greats 