Raking in an incredible R1,7-million in total ticket sales to date, Platteland made it into the number three spot on the film industry’s top ten, coming in after Hollywood blockbusters Breaking Dawn and Happy Feet 2. More than 48 000 people saw the film on the weekend.

Platteland features a stellar cast of actors and musicians and puts a vibrant new spin on some of the most popular Afrikaans hits of the past few years. It tells the story of Riana van Niekerk (Lianie May) who is desperately fighting to save her family’s farm from Mike Ferreira (Steve Hofmeyr). He has his own agenda and is determined to drive Riana from the land and seize her farm. When Dirk Pretorius (Bok van Blerk), a drifter with many secrets of his own, arrives in town, new alliances are formed and love blossoms in unexpected ways.

“The response from cinemagoers has been absolutely wonderful and we could not be happier,” says Sean Else, who also owns his own Afrikaans recording label, Mozi records. “We wanted to make a musical that would appeal to all the people who love Afrikaans music and who have turned it into a booming industry in South Africa. There is something for everyone in the film.”

Produced by Philo Pieterse (Lipstiek Dipstiek, Circles in the Forrest/Kringe in ‘n Bos) and Sean Else, and written by Else and multiple award winning playwright Deon Opperman, Platteland is also directed by Else (Ons vir Jou), and was filmed in Vrede and Verkykerskop. The film was released by Indigenous Film Distribution.

Helen Kuun, CEO of Indigenous Film Distribution says the storyline, combined with the many popular artists and musicians performing some of the most-loved songs of recent years, is proving to be irresistible for the Afrikaans-speaking public. “Platteland got 11% more attendances than Bakgat 2 and 144% more attendances than the hugely popular Jakhalsdans. It’s the perfect film for the upcoming holidays and we are confident it will continue to shoot the lights out.”