The film 'Shut Up! Men Are Talking' will debut on Movie Room (DStv Channel 113) on August 31st, marking a historic event as it is the first locally produced movie to be broadcast on this channel.
Film director Chris K. Radabe and actor Tulani Mtsweni visited Delos Lounge in Morningside, Durban, as part of the film's presentation.
Before its television release, the film generated buzz after its premiere on YouTube, gathering 10 million viewers in a month, which prompted many viewers to demand its screening on the main television channel.
The film was entirely self-financed, with the script and direction belonging to experienced filmmaker Chris K. Radabe. His previous works include 'Umkhokha', 'Isibaya', 'Isifiso', 'Uzalo', 'Adulting', 'Outlaws', and 'Cobrizi'.
This week, Radabe was in Durban with Tulani Mtsweni, who plays the villain Mancinza in the film.
Jo-Ann Reineke played the role of Nontobeko, a young widow trying to find her way in a patriarchal world as a stoic young woman.
For Mtsweni, this role is a departure from the lighter characters he usually plays and that audiences enjoy. He expressed satisfaction at securing this role despite its difference from his usual audience persona. Mtsweni noted the importance of people not pigeonholing him into one type, stating that it challenges his acting range.
Radabe mentioned that some of Mtsweni's fans were unhappy that he took on the role of the villain. Radabe shared that some told him he wanted them to hate the actor.
Pulane Tshabalala, Content Director at The Rooms Network, which owns Movie Room, expressed hope that 'Shut Up! Men Are Talking' would motivate more local filmmakers to submit proposals, as the channel shifts its focus towards South African production.
Radabe and Mtsweni anticipate that the film will spark an honest conversation about the violence women endure from men and encourage men to self-reflect on the causes of destructive behavior.
Radabe highly praised the professionalism of film star Jo-Ann Reineke during sensitive scenes. Reineke plays Nontobeko, who suffers violence from Mancinza. Radabe noted that she effectively took on some directorial duties and managed these scenes.
Actress Lungelo Mpangase, part of the main cast, also noted that Reineke firmly stated that hiring an intimacy coordinator was unnecessary. She said, 'She said there was nothing an intimacy coordinator could tell Tulani that I couldn't tell him.'
Radabe mentioned that this simplified filming, although some scenes of sexual violence proved too heavy for him. Mtsweni felt similarly and recounted having to find ways to detach himself after filming each day.
Radabe and Mtsweni expect discussions to arise from the film. Mtsweni added, 'The title alone will make people talk.'
The cast also includes Wiseman Mnkube, Zeketelo Zondi, and Lungelo Mpangase. According to Radabe, the film has strong creative ties to KwaZulu-Natal, but most filming took place in Johannesburg due to budget constraints. The film premieres at 8:00 PM on Movie Room.
