Spoek Mathambo Stars In This Powerful Short Film From South Africa
Written/directed by Paul Speirs, The Generation Of Consequence uses Fantasma's Damn! to tell a multi-layered narrative in short film format.
<p>"Youthful resolve is a burning flame, dimmed with time, and snuffed with age," reads the tagline of <em>The Generation Of Consequence</em>. Written and directed by Cape Town-based filmmaker <strong><a href="http://paulspeirs.co.za/" target="_blank">Paul Speirs</a></strong>, the clip uses the <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/fantasma/" target="_blank">Fantasma</a></strong> track "Damn!" to tell a multi-layered, highly interpretive narrative in short film format. The film, which stars Fantasma's bandleader <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/artists/spoek-mathambo/" target="_blank">Spoek Mathambo</a></strong> alongside Zimbabwean-born actress <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/chi_mhende" target="_blank">Chi Mhende</a></strong> and newcomer <strong>Mandilakhe Sabongo</strong>, is a story about "the cyclic nature of generational sin, and how the fiery resolve of youth may be the only power strong enough to end a cycle of brutality" explain the filmmakers.</p><p>"I wanted to explore the consequences of choice in short film form, to lyrically unfold the loss of innocence with age," Speirs says of his script. He cites American filmmaker <strong><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0161834/" target="_blank">Derek Cianfrance</a></strong> (<em>The Place Beyond The Pines</em>, <em>Blue Valentine</em>) and his work <a href="http://movieline.com/2012/09/10/ryan-gosling-interview-derek-cianfrance-place-beyond-the-pines/" target="_blank">telling stories of generational legacy</a> as a source of inspiration. "Youthful resolve, a child's capacity to determine who it is they want (or don't want) to become, is often snuffed out by circumstance and cynicism and inherited by the next generation," Speirs explains. It was the reverse of this idea that intrigued him when conceiving of <em>The Generation of Consequence</em>. "What if the power of this naive resolution, with the potential to end a cycle of brutality," he writes, "is to be the decision maker?"</p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p>Speirs also explained why he wanted to work with Spoek on the project. "I’ve followed and appreciated Spoek Mathambo’s varied creative work and particularly his instinct for theme driven narrative," he says. "Working with him and his music, we found a beautiful, almost juxtaposed compliment between the slow unravelling story and beating pace of his Fantasma track. A strange pairing of sorts, that leaves the viewer at odds with the physically small, yet metaphorically large world created in four minutes."</p><p><div class="dfp_atf-slot" data-not-loaded="true"></div><script type="text/javascript">
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</script></p><p>Watch the premiere of Paul Speirs' <em>The Generation of Consequence</em> below. "Damn!" originally appeared on Fantasma's debut album, <em><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/news/fantasma-premiere-free-love-mini-mix-stream/" target="_blank">Free Love</a></em>, and features guests vocals from <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/news/jumping-back-slash-josiahwise-four-ethers-remix/" target="_blank">Josiahwiseistheserpentwithfeet</a></strong>.</p><p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c7c564541fc8a50052be169b60bc7727"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dA8txZPv_Js?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></p><p><em>The Generation of Consequence</em></p><p>Starring Spoek Mathambo, Chi Mhende and Mandilakhe Sabongo</p><p>Written and Directed by <a href="http://paulspeirs.co.za/" target="_blank">Paul Speirs</a></p><p>Director of photography <a href="http://pierredevilliers.co.za/" target="_blank">Pierre de Villiers</a></p><p>Producer Allison Cox</p><p>Camera assistant Jason Aldridge</p><p>Gaffer Brian Oliver</p><p>Lighting assistant Fuad Casker</p><p>Lighting assistant Stephan van der Merwe</p><p>Production Robynn King</p><p>Art direction Daniel Krenzer</p><p>Makeup and special effects Kimberley Leaver</p><p>Audio design Hans Raubenheimer</p><p>Colourist Norm Harvey</p><p>Post production <a href="http://www.newcreationcollective.com/" target="_blank">New Creation Collective</a></p><p><em><strong>**Ed. Note: </strong>An earlier version of this article was titled 'Spoek Mathambo Stars In This Devastating Short Film From South Africa'</em></p>
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