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We decided to expand this further, in our effort to grow and support film culture in South Africa, by launching a new monthly feature on the blog called The Film Culture Report.

In this report, we won’t just be looking at the big releases or the films everyone is talking about, but also at filmmakers, festivals, cinemas, archives, industry conversations, independent projects, and cultural spaces that are shaping how we experience South African cinema.

Here are five things we’re keeping an eye on this month.

1. Mother City comes to cinemas

South African documentary Mother City will be playing at selected Ster-Kinekor cinemas this month.

The film focuses on land and housing activism in Cape Town, bringing questions around the city’s housing crisis and inequality to the screen.

What makes this story interesting is the route that Mother’s City took from independent documentary filmmaking to being released in commercial cinemas. South African documentaries don’t always get the opportunity to be screened across the country at big cinemas. So what happens when a film/documentary rooted in a very local story gets that kind of platform?

What does it take for South African documentaries to move beyond festivals and into the mainstream cinema ecosystem?

You can book tickets to watch it now

2. Durban FilmMart looks to the future

The 17th edition of Durban FilmMart will run from 9-12 October, and will see filmmakers, producers, funders and other industry professionals gather in Durban, KZN.

This year’s programme has a ‘SA in Focus’ stream which examines the current state and future of the SA film industry, alongside pitching opportunities, masterclasses, networking and industry discussions.

Another interesting conversation will focus on AI, writing and copyright, which is a particularly relevant discussion in a time when technology is changing the way films and television are developed.

The annual Durban FilmMart reminds us that film culture doesn’t begin when the lights go down in the cinema. It starts with who gets to tell stories, who funds them, who produces them, and who gets them onto screens.

3. Sugarcane, Burning has had an exciting festival journey

Tashin Singh’s Sugarcane, Burning, a short film, is inspired by the filmmaker’s family history and experiences of Indian South Africans under colonialism. It has screened internationally, including at the London Indian Film Festival.

Now, after screening abroad, the film is returning home to premiere at the FAME Shorts Festival in Cape Town later this month.

This kind of journey is interesting because it challenges the idea that South African cinema has to defined by where it is made or where it premieres. A story can be rooted in South African history and culture and still find an audience around the world.

4. JHB gets experimental

The Joburg Underground Film Festival returns to The Bioscope this month, bringing together a programme of experimental and unconventional moving-image work.

The festival will feature Super 8, found footage, archival imagery, stop-motion animation and even GTA gameplay captures, alongside work by South African filmmakers.

This is important because festivals such as this expands the idea of what ‘film culture’ means. It allows us to be creative with filmmaking and celebrate films that are not just the latest blockbuster or indie darling. Sometimes you need to go somewhere and watch something you’ve never heard of before.

Find out more here

5. Mapantsula gets another life

Oliver Schmitz’s Mapantsula is one of the most iconic South African films. This month, audiences have another opportunity to see it on the big screen in its restored form.

The 4K restoration of the 1988 film premiered in the Classics section at Berlinale 2023.

Mapantsula is an important film in South Africa’s cinematic history, particularly with regard to its relationship to apartheid and resistance.

Restoration is instrumental in film culture as it protects our cinematic history and makes sure that future generations can have access to the work that came before.

You can watch Mapuntsula at The Bioscope this month

See you next month. 🎬

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After a year of no SAFTAs, the South African award show is back and it’s awarded films, television series and documentaries that were released in the last two years.

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You can find the full list of nominees here. But I thought I’d zero in on the feature film categories, so you can enjoy some of the best of South African cinema. The 19th South African Film and Television Awards has the theme, One Story. One Industry. One Future. – Celebrating South Africa’s Screen Legacy, Together, will take place on 13 and 14 March 2026.

Here’s where you can watch the nominated films:

Available to stream on Showmax:

• Matilda en Matthys -  an offbeat romcom about a generation's fear of commitment and suspicion of romance, and how love always knows best in the end. Nominations: Best Made-for-TV movie

• The Butcher’s Soul - A butcher is granted seven days by Thunzi, the angel of Death, to avenge his family and bring her the guilty souls in exchange for his daughter's life. Nominations: Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling; Best Achievement in Special Effects (SFX) in Hair and Make-Up; Best Achievement in an Original Song; Best Achievement in Visual Effects (VFX)

• The Fix - In a future with toxic air, a model takes a drug causing a transformation. She tries to reverse it but learns that her mutations could save humanity. Nominations: Best Feature Film; Best Achievement in Directing - Kelsey Egan; Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling; Best Achievement in Costume Design; Best Achievement in Production Design; Best Achievement in Special Effects (SFX) in Hair and Make-Up; Best Achievement in Sound Design; Best Achievement in Editing; Best Achievement in Original Music/Score; Best Achievement in Visual Effects (VFX); Best Achievement in Cinematography

• Die Kwiksilwers - A widow in her 80s, and her three elderly friends, embark on a hilarious road trip across the Karoo to experience a meteor shower in Sutherland. Nominations: Best Actress in a Feature Film - Lida Botha; Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film - June van Merch; Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film - Susanne Beyers

Available to stream on Netflix:

• Mr Easy Loo - In 1980's South Africa, an ambitious family man attempts to convince a cynical white business owner to help him launch portable toilets in his township, becoming a self-made millionaire in the process. Nominations: Best Made-for-TV movie

• Happiness Is - Turning forty was meant to be a low-key event for Princess, but when her best friend throws her an unforgettable party, her entire world is shaken up. Nominations: Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling; Best Achievement in Costume Design

• Heart of the Hunter - The quiet retirement of a once-feared assassin in South Africa is interrupted by a desperate call from the daughter of an old and trusted friend whose father has been kidnapped. He uncovers a conspiracy at the heart of the government. Nominations: Best Achievement in Directing - Mandla Walter Dube; Best Actor in a Feature Film - Bonko Khoza; Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling; Best Achievement in Cinematography

• Inkabi - A retired hitman becomes a taxi driver. Lucy, a casino worker, witnesses a murder and is targeted. She turns to Frank for help. He kills to protect her. Nominations: Best Achievement in Production Design; Best Achievement in Special Effects (SFX) in Hair and Make-Up

• A Soweto Love Story - Desperate for her three single sons to get married, a woman promises her house to the first one to tie the knot, setting off a race to the altar. Nominations: Best Achievement in Original Music/Score

• Meet The Khumalos - Two mums - once best friends, now arch-enemies - start a neighbourhood war against each other when they find out their kids are head-over-heels in love. Nominations: Best Achievement in an Original Song

• Soweto Blaze - A small-time pot dealer's hopes for a better life are upended when his friends involve him in an outlandish kidnapping scheme. Nominations: Best Achievement in Visual Effects (VFX)

• Umjolo: Day Ones - Zanele and Andile have been best friends since day one. But now that Andile is married with kids, Zanele is left uncertain about the future of their relationship. Nominations: Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film - Trix Vivier

Available to stream on eVOD:

• Red Zone - In gang-ridden Westbury, Johannesburg, newly minted paramedic Wade Jacobs tries to escape a life of crime. But when his uncle, a gang leader, is gunned down, saving him pulls Wade into a deadly turf war – where loyalty, violence and justice collide. Nominations: Best Made-for-TV Movie

• Snake - As his insidious influence threatens to destroy them all, Stella must summon the courage to expose the snake before it's too late. Nominations: Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film - Neels van Jaarsveld; Best Achievement in Sound Design; Best Achievement in Scriptwriting

• Bloedhond - Five students en route to a festival wander into the clutches of a depraved family who've been isolated for 27 years. Nominations: Best Achievement in Original Music/Score

Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video:

• A Kind of Madness - A 70-year-old man abducts his wife, who has dementia, from her retirement home and goes on the run from their adult children. Nominations: Best Feature Film; Best Actress in a Feature Film - Sandra Prinsloo; Best Achievement in Costume Design; Best Achievement in Editing; Best Achievement in Original Music/Score; Best Achievement in Scriptwriting

• Death of a Whistleblower - Investigative journalist Luyanda Masinda's life is thrown into shock when her one-night lover, renowned editor Stanley Galloway, is hijacked and killed. Nominations: Best Feature Film; Best Achievement in Directing - Ian Gabriel; Best Actress in a Feature Film - Noxolo Dlamini; Best Achievement in Costume Design; Best Achievement in Production Design; Best Achievement in Editing; Best Achievement in Cinematography; Best Achievement in Scriptwriting

• Cop & a Half - In the heart of bustling Johannesburg, a mismatched duo takes the crime-fighting scene by storm in a South African action-comedy. Nominations: Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film - Nthati Moshesh; Best Achievement in Special Effects (SFX) in Hair and Make-Up; Best Achievement in Visual Effects (VFX)

• The Drop - Two close friends from film school, Tom and Vongani, share an apartment in Maboneng, Johannesburg, with a sexy, high-spirited girl, Loretta. Nominations: Best Achievement in Sound Design; Best Achievement in an Original Song

• The Shakedown - A medical aid broker who gets mixed up in the Cape Town underworld after his mistress threatens to reveal the secret of their affair. Justin's attempts to maintain his golden boy reputation lead him down a path filled with dangerous criminals. Nominations: Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film - Emmanuel Castis; Best Achievement in Original Music/Score; Best Achievement in Cinematography

• Klip Anker Baai - A young woman comes back to South Africa to run her late father's fishing company and save her community from losing its livelihood. Nominations: Best Achievement in an Original Song

• Sabbatical - When a successful investment banker unexpectedly returns to her childhood home after an illicit work incident, her overbearing and doting mother is wary of her sudden arrival. Nominations: Best Actress in a Feature Film - Mona Monyane; Best Achievement in an Original Song

Can’t find on any streaming service:

• Just Now Jeffrey - During the final days of South African apartheid in 1989, teenage best friends Jeffrey and Brad are indifferent to the world around them and embark on a mission to lose their virginity before graduation. Nominations: Best Feature Film; Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film - Nicky Rebelo; Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling; Best Achievement in Costume Design; Best Achievement in Production Design; Best Achievement in Sound Design; Best Achievement in Cinematography

• Greytown Girl - This powerful biopic tells the true story of Meena, a small-town South African girl born with physical limitations and abandoned as a baby, who finds strength and love through letter writing. Nominations: Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film - Linda Sokhulu; Best Achievement in Production Design

• BOS - Seven years after a nuclear war decimated Earth, Heinrich is a wanderer who, for the past four years, thinks he's the last one left on the planet. He soon learns he's not when he meets Em, a young woman with a secret. Nominations: Best Achievement in Special Effects (SFX) in Hair and Make-Up

• Skeleton Coast - A group of African scientists arrive on the Skeleton Coast in search of Blunamite, a never-before-seen gem, rumoured to be on the coastline of Namibia. Nominations: Best Achievement in Directing - Wesley Johnston; Best Achievement in Sound Design

• Hier.Na - The story of the multicultural Burgess family, and the incident that changed their lives. Nominations: Best Actor in a Feature Film - David Isaacs; Best Actress in a Feature Film - June van Merch; Best Achievement in Editing; Best Achievement in Scriptwriting

• Old Righteous Blues - A young man dreams of restoring his town's Christmas Choir Band to its former glory. However, he must overcome personal obstacles, reconcile with his past, and bring together a divided community. Nominations: Best Feature Film; Best Achievement in Directing - Muneera Sallies; Best Actor in a Feature Film - Ayden Croy; Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film - Simon Bruinders; Best Achievement in Editing; Best Achievement in Scriptwriting

• Verified - On the Holy Night of Power, Dillon, a digital edgelord must come face to face with the cold hard truth of reality. He must realise that he can’t close the window on loss. Nominations: Best Achievement in Visual Effects (VFX)

• Som van Twee - Henk Opperman, a psychologist coping with the emotional aftermath of losing his wife in a tragic car accident, struggles to connect with his son Renier, who masks his emotions behind anger and denial. Nominations: Best Actor in a Feature Film - Louw Venter; Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film - James Borthwick

xoxo

Caryn

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As someone who consumes a lot of South African content, I often get asked my opinion on how the film industry is growing. My answer is that every year as more diverse content is created, we are developing, the quality is improving and stories are becoming more personalised. This is a good thing, but I often add that South Africa cannot reach the next level of its film movement without proper film criticism, which I fear is waning.

So what is a film movement?

Masterclass.com states it is “a filmmaking trend shaped by and reflecting the time, people, culture, social norms, and political events of the location from which it emerged.”

There have been numerous film movements over the 100+ years of film, but some of the best-known ones are the French New Wave, Italian Neo-Realism and Soviet Montage.

For me, one of the most interesting things about studying history (of anything) is taking note of what patterns take place and how that can apply to what is happening right now. As a self-appointed pop culture scholar, I like applying this thinking to what I love. So while studying the different film movements, I looked at how this applied to the current state of South African film.

Establishing a South African film movement

It is my firm belief that we are sitting on the precipice of a film movement in South Africa (my source is trust me bro, and just my instincts tbh). Everything before 1994, was firmly within the laws of apartheid and mostly framed around the stories that the apartheid government was trying to tell (of course, with a few outliers).

Immediately after 1994, there was a lot of course correcting and stories of formerly marginalised racial groups were able to tell their stories. But the top brass were still mostly white and male, and the choices of what gets made and what doesn’t were still in their hands. Even when we look at the most successful South African film, Tsotsi (2005), which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. It was written and directed by a white man, produced by a white, British man, and based on a novel by a white man.

Now, we are seeing a shift as executives are of different races, genders and sexual orientations, and the stories are becoming more individualised as well as more diverse. But we are still feeling out the landscape. We are still learning. We are still developing. We are not at that next step yet.

So what can take us from the exploring period that we are at now to where we need to be in order to truly create an established film movement in South Africa that creates quality and renowned films? To me, it’s good film criticism.

What role does film criticism play?

Okay, let’s zero in on one of the most popular film movements - the French New Wave. The French New Wave began in the late 1950s in Paris, France and focused on giving directors full creative control of the work. This resulted in the blueprint that paved the way for modern auteur filmmaking and produced filmmakers like Jean-Luc Godard, Agnes Varda and François Truffaut.

This movement was born after World War II, when critics associated with the magazine Cahiers du cinéma rejected the films at the tim,e which were referred to as the Tradition de qualité (”Tradition of Quality”). These mainstream films focused on craft over storytelling and adaptations over experimentation. It was safe. Many of the filmmakers of the French New Wave began as critics, but there were others who used their expertise to help improve the industry and push filmmakers to take risks.

The story of the French New Wave, which is often credited with changing the way films were made across the world, works in tandem with the story of film criticism. Through accurate criticism, these filmmakers were able to improve upon their work and also experiment outside of the norm.

I mean, it makes sense why Tradition de qualité was popular after the war, as people just wanted something familiar and comfortable after a difficult time. If we watch post-apartheid South African films, other than the films that were about apartheid and South Africa’s history, they tend to take the ‘rainbow nation’ slogan to heart. The stories seem to live in either an ideal where the different races didn’t mix, or they all live in such unity, which was not the reality of the times. But in the effort to promote a sense of ‘Rainbow-nationalism,’ this made sense.

However, now we are thirty years post-apartheid, and we no longer delude ourselves into thinking things are all hunky dory. For most of us, we would like to see our experiences onscreen. The current film landscape has become more intersectional and less stereotypical. But when it comes to criticism, we still seem to be tiptoeing around films and giving more promotion and marketing rather than actual constructive criticism.

Not to say that there is no criticism, as a film critic, I’m living proof that there is. However, there is a limited amount of criticism of local content. Mainstream publications are often click-based, and that means that assignments are based on either international content that is popular or the outlier local content. We are no longer living in the world of Barry Ronge, who could put all his reviews in the newspaper, and people would read them all. People click on only what they are interested i,n and if they have not heard of the film, they are less likely to click on a review about it.

Sometimes the internet model just does not suit. Instead of reading a whole lot of reviews to decide what to watch, we wait for an aggregated score on Rotten Tomatoes or see what everyone else is talking about. And where does local content fit in when we don’t even know it exists, let alone see it on Rotten Tomatoes?

I feel like this, in turn, does not encourage filmmakers because there is not enough discussion about their content, not enough feedback, and not enough momentum to encourage them to improve or truly challenge themselves.

How can we move to the next phase of filmmaking without adequate criticism?

Like clockwork, I am always here to give you the lowdown of where you can watch the Academy Award nominated films in South Africa.

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You can find the full list of nominations here. The 98th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, 15 March 2026 so you have a month and a bit to catch up with the nominees. I’ve stuck to the legal routes you can take to watch the films, so as always screenings are always limited and take a while to be distributed in South Africa. But if you are creative, you can perhaps find a way to watch them anyhow. These are the ones that are currently available:

Currently in cinemas:

• Hamnet - A reimagining of the personal tragedy that strikes William and Agnes Shakespeare and what inspires him to write Hamlet. Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director - Chloe Zhao, Best Actress - Jessie Buckley, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Casting

• Marty Supreme - The story of Marty Mauser, a hustler with a dream, who pursues greatness. Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor - Timothee Chalamet, Best Director - Josh Safdie, Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Casting, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design

• Avatar: Fire and Ash - The conflict on Pandora escalates as Jake’s family encounters a new threat. Nominations: Best Costume Design, Best Visual Effects

• Song Sung Blue - Two down-on-their-luck performers form a Neil Diamond tribute band proving its never too late to find love and follow your dreams. Nominations: Best Actress - Kate Hudson

Available to rent:

• Sinners (Apple TV/Google Play) - Leaving their troubles behind, twin brothers look at opening a juke joint in their hometown. Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor - Michael B. Jordan, Best Supporting Actress - Wunmi Mosaku, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor - Delroy Lindo, Best Original Score, Best Director - Ryan Coogler, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Sound

• Bugonia (DStv Box Office/Apple TV/Google Play) - Two conspiracy-obsessed men kidnap the CEO of a major company when they become convinced that she's an alien who wants to destroy Earth. Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress - Emma Stone, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score

• One Battle After Another (Apple TV/Google Play) - The story follows an ex-revolutionary who is forced back into his former combative lifestyle when he and his daughter are pursued by a corrupt military officer. Nominations: Best Director - Paul Thomas Anderson, Best Actor - Leonardo DiCaprio, Best Supporting Actor - Sean Penn, Best Supporting Actor - Benicio Del Toro, Best Supporting Actress - Teyana Taylor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Sound

• Blue Moon (Apple TV/Google Play) - A true story about lyricist Lorenz Hart as he confronts his shattered self-confidence one night in 1943. Nominations: Best Actor - Ethan Hawke, Best Original Screenplay

• Zootopia 2 (Apple TV/Google Play) - Detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde find themselves on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who turns the mammal metropolis of Zootopia upside down. Nominations: Best Animated Feature Film

• Jurassic World: Rebirth (Apple TV/Google Play) - Zora Bennett leads a team of skilled operatives to the most dangerous place on Earth, an island research facility for the original Jurassic Park. Nominations: Best Visual Effects

• Weapons (Apple TV/Google Play) - When all but one child from the same classroom mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance. Nominations: Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Amy Madigan

Available to stream on Apple TV:

• F1 - Formula One (F1) racing driver Sonny Hayes returns after a 30-year absence to save his former teammate's underdog team from collapse. Nominations: Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, Best Film Editing

• Come See Me in the Good Light - Colorado Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson approaches their cancer diagnosis with honesty and art. Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Film

• The Lost Bus - A wayward school bus driver and a dedicated school teacher battle to save 22 children from a wildfire. Nominations: Best Visual Effects

Available to stream on Netflix

• Frankenstein - A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a monstrous creature to life in a daring experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation. Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor - Jacob Elordi, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Costume Design, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Sound

• Train Dreams - Robert Grainier lives all of his years in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, working on the land, helping to create a new world at the turn of the 20th century. Nominations: Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Original Song

• KPop Demon Hunters - When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey aren't selling out stadiums or topping the Billboard charts, they're moonlighting as demon hunters to protect their fans from ever-present supernatural danger. Nominations: Best Animated Feature Film; Best Original Song - Golden

• The Perfect Neighbor - A seemingly minor neighbourhood dispute in Florida escalates into deadly violence. Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Film

• All the Empty Rooms - Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp embark across the United States to memorialise the untouched bedrooms of children lost to school shootings. Nominations: Best Documentary Short

Available to stream on Disney+

• Elio - Elio, an underdog with an active imagination, finds himself inadvertently beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organisation with representatives from galaxies far and wide. Nominations: Best Animated Feature

Available to watch on YouTube/Daily Motion:

• Papillon/Butterfly - Young evacuee Ester has fled her war-torn country to Britain. Nominations: Best Animated Short Film.

• Retirement Plan - In the throes of his overstimulated, energy poor midlife, Ray fantasises about everything he'd love to do in retirement, once he finally has the time. Nominations: Best Animated Short Film. Watch it here [x]

• Two People Exchanging Saliva - In a dystopian world, kissing has become forbidden and society considers the act disgusting and vile, resulting in the abduction of those who break this rule. Nominations: Best Live Action Short Film

Available at the Johannesburg Film Festival 2026:

The Johannesburg Film Festival will take place from 3 - 8 March 2026, you can buy tickets here [x].

• It Was Just An Accident - In Iran, a man bumps into the man he believes to be his former torturer. However, faced with this person who fiercely denies having been his tormentor, doubt sets in. Nominations: Best International Film; Best Original Screenplay

• Kokoho - Upon the death of his father, the leader of a yakuza gang, 14-year-old Kikuo is entrusted to a famous kabuki actor. Alongside Shunsuke, the latter's only son, he decides to devote himself to this traditional theatre. Nominations: Best Makeup and Hairstyling

• The Voice of Hind Rajab - Volunteers at the Palestine Red Crescent Society stay on the phone with a 6-year-old girl who gets trapped in a car in war-torn Gaza. Nominations: Best International Film

No news of availability/not currently available in SA:

• The Secret Agent

• Sentimental Value

• The Smashing Machine

• The Ugly Stepsister

• Arco

• Little Amelie or the Character of the Rain

• The Alabama Solution

• Cutting Through the Rocks

• Mr. Nobody Against Putin

• Viva Verdi!

• Diane Warren: Relentless

• If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

xoxo

Caryn

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Just a little letter about some things I’ve been thinking about:

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My first foray into the work of Rob Reiner was, of course, When Harry Met Sally. The film that has been proclaimed as my favourite film ever. I don’t know when I watched it for the first time, if it was on TV or a rented VHS, but in my high school years, amidst the DVD craze, my sister moved back home from London with a copy of the When Harry Met Sally DVD. Being able to watch it repeatedly healed something in me, or made me that much more obsessed with romcoms, witty dialogue and Meg Ryan’s curls. It’s why I believe a funny man is a hot man, why I think knits are underrated and why New York City is my favourite city. The cadence scratched an itch within me and for decades after that, I’d keep revisiting this film as I fell more in love with the medium and today, I will still stand by my statement that it is the best film ever.

Now, as a mindless consumer, I did not pay much attention to who directed this beloved film. Rob Reiner, as a person, became real to me through another romantic comedy that was part of my sister’s collection – Sleepless in Seattle. He plays an innocuous side character, a work friend of Tom Hanks’ Sam, who encourages him to get back into the dating scene. He’s only in a few scenes but he is memorable because of his Cary Grant impression and comments about tiramisu and cute butts. The representation of this character taught me so much about the importance of good supporting characters, and how screen time is not congruent to how impactful a character is.

After exhausting the DVDs of all my favourite films that we owned, I started prying into the special features. For my younger readers, DVDs used to have extra tidbits like deleted scenes, games, etc. in the olden days. The Sleepless in Seattle DVD had an audio commentary by director/co-writer Nora Ephron and her sister, writer, Delia Ephron. You know what, perhaps audio commentaries are what got me so into film. Anyway, in the audio commentary Nora explains that she cast Rob Reiner in the role because when they were making When Harry Met Sally, he was so good at reading all the characters, including Sally. And this is when it clicked to me that this seemingly random side character is actually the creator (along with Nora Ephron, of course) of the most iconic film of all time.

After this, Rob Reiner was on my radar. I sought out his films, I got excited when he cameo-ed in a film or series that I liked, I watched his interviews, and I became somewhat of a savant on the Reiner-verse. There was something so affectionate about his character, how he seemed like someone you could hang with, someone who had such a great way with people. You can see it in the reactions of those that he worked with.

If anything, Reiner became for me, an example of a star director. Someone who could as easily play himself in Dickie Roberts: Child Star (I, shamelessly, love this movie) as he could play a cheating production exec in Hollywood, a random judge on The Good Wife, an exhausted dad to Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street, and a business mentor on The Bear. He was everywhere in the way that your favourite uncle is. And his work as a director from The Princess Bride to A Few Good Men to The Bucket List are different pieces of work, yet his warmth cannot be denied.

Reiner’s work shows compassion, humanism and warmth even in the darkest subjects. It’s a testament to what art with a heart looks like. How, even when you challenge yourself, you can still be true to who you are and your ethos in life. And I think that’s the lesson I’ll choose to take from Reiner’s legacy.

On New Year’s Eve 2024, I watched When Harry Met Sally in the cinema for the first time. There’s something so special about watching your favourite film on a big screen, surrounded by other fans. And that’s a magical feeling that I’ll never forget and I’ll always be grateful to Rob Reiner for that.

Here are some not as popular Reiner films that I recommend:

• Alex & Emma: Alex is a struggling writer who needs to finish his book because he owes money to loan sharks. To help him, he hires stenographer Emma. It’s kinda like an alt version of Music & Lyrics.

• Rumor Has It: This is a guilty fave of mine. A woman finds out that The Graduate is based on her family and she tries to investigate the story.

• Flipped: Honestly, if you have not seen this adorable film, get on it! It tells the story of Juli and Bryce, two neighbours who have feelings for each other at different times. It’s told with alternating POVs and is so well done. I’ve been obsessed with it since I’ve watched it.

• Albert Brooks: Defending My Life: Albert Brooks is one of the most important comedic talents of the 20th century and was one of Rob Reiner’s oldest and best friends. This documentary is such a good tribute to Brooks' work and how Reiner views him.

xoxo

Caryn

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Just a little letter about some things I’ve been thinking about:

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In November, it was announced that Ryan Murphy’s new legal drama All’s Fair was the most-watched scripted Hulu show debut in three years, and it was subsequently renewed for a second season. The reviews were abysmal, with many reviewers complaining about the bad writing and the stilted acting from the show’s star Kim Kardashian.

I think many viewers (myself included) were curious about how bad it could truly be. I reviewed it for News24 and while there is plenty to complain about, I enjoyed it as well. It’s the type of show you watch with friends, you laugh about or you talk about over coffee. It isn’t Succession, but it doesn’t pretend to be either.

One thing that struck me while watching was the series’ attempt to be feminist™. The series is about two lawyers Allura Grant (Kardashian) and Liberty Ronson (Naomi Watts) who leave their sexist law firm to start their own, along with lead investigator Emerald Greene (Niecey Nash-Betts). The new law firm focuses on divorce cases and represents the women in the cases. Along for the ride, is their retired mentor, Dina Standish (Glenn Close), their nemesis from a rival firm, Carrington Lane, (Sarah Paulson) and their receptionist/trainee lawyer, Milan (Teyana Taylor).

About this I wrote in News24:

The all-female law firm concept and the fact that in the first five episodes, Allura and company only defended women, seem very much reminiscent of 2010s girlboss feminism. The capitalistic aspect of the series, in that they try to get the women filing for divorce the most money possible, and we see the lawyers going around in private jets, living in mansions, driving luxury cars and wearing designer clothes, seems at odds with the intersectional feminist mandate which the feminist movement has developed into. It feels extremely surface-level in how it deals with women’s issues. Is the series really concerned with making things fair, as the title suggests, or just fair for rich, mostly white, mostly straight women? Time will tell if the rest of the season feels more balanced, but the first five episodes seem very much like the show is using the buzzwords surrounding feminism and the women’s movement to depict the decadence and glamour of high society Los Angeles.

I would go further to say that it is impossible to have a truly feminist message behind the show with Kim Kardashian at the helm because of what she represents. It’s very difficult to critique the institutions that make people like the Kardashians billionaires and uber-capitalists when they are integral parts of the production (Kardashian and her mother Kris Jenner are producers of the series too). This is also true because of the meta narrative surrounding Kim Kardashian, which means that it is difficult to separate Kardashian from her public persona.

Actors with public personas is nothing new, and we have heard ad nauseum from actors who fear being type casted in certain roles. But I think with social media and reality television, this has been exacerbated in a way that makes it very difficult to separate character and real-life persona. This is what makes it difficult to see Kim Kardashian in All’s Fair as anything other than Kim Kardashian, despite what her character’s name, profession or relationship status might be. It also doesn’t help that the character that Kardashian plays, Allura, is styled and acts similarly to the way that Kardashian does in her reality show and on social media.

How does Kim Kardashian form part of the meta narrative? Well, this means that when you are watching the show, you already have preconceptions of the character based on what you know about Kardashian’s real life. You might argue that anytime you watch something with a celebrity that you know you have a preconceived notion – for example if you see Tom Cruise in a film you assume it’s going to be an action film, if you see Kevin Hart you assume it’s going to be comedy etc, which is why when they act in different roles than they usually do (a la Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems) it is so poignant. However, I think it’s different with Kim Kardashian because of the access she has given us to her life, the fact that she is not the strongest actor and because the character is so close to her persona.

You have to think that creator Ryan Murphy had this in mind when creating this role for Kardashian. If not, he could have written the character as less glamorous, had her styled differently etc, but because Murphy is known for the camp in his productions (examples include the American Horror Story seasons, Scream Queens, Glee and my personal favourite, Popular). Camp is a subculture often associated with gay men, and is defined by Robertson (1995:33) as “Camp is a sensibility committed to artifice and exaggeration, particularly with respect to sex and gender roles.” Malinowska (2017:189) goes further to say that “camp exploits the glamorous and the sublime of a star and destabilises the idea of stardom itself.”

This made me wonder if Ryan Murphy, a connoisseur of camp had taken this into account when he created the show and cast Kardashian. What was he trying to represent further than the surface level of the show? Murphy sought out Kardashian to appear in season 12 of American Horror Story in a role written specifically for her, and he then pitched All’s Fair to Kardashian and Jenner at dinner. The original pitch dinner was shown in an episode of The Kardashians so further than just watching the show, fans were already invested in it, because they felt as if they were part of the decision making process. They saw the initial seeds of the show, and then got to watch what it developed into. Kardashian’s character being a divorce lawyer is also poignant as fans have watched her go through three public divorces (most memorably with Kanye West). Her father, Robert Kardashian, was also famously a lawyer as part of O.J. Simpson’s defence team, and Kim has been very vocal about studying to become a lawyer herself. When Murphy pitched the concept, Kim said it was “on brand”, depicting no real desire by her or Murphy to move away from the Kim Kardashian brand. The draw for Murphy in doing the show was Kardashian herself. But why is that?

Murphy had no intention of putting Kardashian into a high drama law series. The cases that the firm takes on feels almost reminiscent of the patients in Murphy’s other masterpiece Nip/Tuck, the overarching plot lines feel soap opera-y, with the secret affairs, pregnancies and Sarah Paulson playing a rival which reminded me so much of Sally Spectra from Bold and the Beautiful; the women shop luxury only, the clothes are dramatic with hats and fur coats; the characters have names like Emerald Greene and Dina Standish. This is not The Practice, it’s not even Suits. But whatever Ryan Murphy is doing, it seems to be working.

A creator who has worked with the likes of Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon and even Paulson herself knows what good acting is, that’s not what he was looking for in this role. He wanted to cast a personality, a mega-celebrity, one whose name alone brings with it references, connotations, a fan base. The easy answer is that All’s Fair is a cash grab, a chance for Murphy and co to use Kardashian’s image and fans to get an easy hit. But I think Ryan Murphy is smarter than that. It will be interesting to see how viewership dropped or increased after the first few episodes, with the first two being the weakest in my opinion.

I think there is a method in Murphy’s madness, a way to critique the system that constantly ridicules Kardashian and other reality stars, while maintaining a morbid curiosity in their lives, a sense of schadenfreude. In the same way that the lawyers in All’s Fair argue, the men are willing to take advantage of the women in their lives, but it’s a problem when those women demand to be compensated for their sacrifice, work and time; so too audiences like to take advantage of Kardashian’s openness, privacy and appeal, and ridicule her when she demands to be compensated for it. As a meta narrative, it is compelling as to what Murphy is trying to say. So it’s less of a feminist, freedom for all piece, and more of an allegory as to the transitory nature of the role women play in society. There is a limit to what Murphy can critique with Kardashian in the lead, they can’t do too much on the capitalist nature of this, or on how it’s often women of colour who bear the brunt of this transitory nature, but maybe they are also not the ones who should be telling that story.

I, for one, will continue watching to see what crazy storyline, iconic guest star, or weird outfit choice will feature in the next episode.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

xoxo

Caryn

recs

documentary: My Mom Jayne

This heartfelt documentary by Mariska Hargitay tells the story of her mother Jayne Mansfield and Mariska’s own journey to dealing with learning more about her mother and her own heritage. Looking at how Jayne Mansfield used her looks and image to increase her publicity is also very reminiscent of the Kim Kardashian image. It is so well made and had me bawling by the end of it. It’s available to watch on Showmax.

what you missed in the news

Entertainment

• Does the break up of M-Net and Warner Bros mean for the future of DStv?

• Playwright Jeremy O’Harris was arrested in Japan on suspicion of drug charges.

• Relationship news: Kim Cattrall got married to audio engineer Russell Thomas; Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau are Instagram official; Miley Cyrus is engaged to Maxx Morando.

• Baby stuff: Justin Theroux and Nicole Brydon Bloom are having a baby; Sienna Miller is pregnant; and Ellie Goulding is having a second baby.

• Lili Reinhart was diagnosed with endometriosis

• Author Sophie Kinsella has passed away.

• TikTok anoints KATSEYE as Global Artist of 2025; and according to Billboard it’s Morgan Wallen.

• TV shows that were renewed: Platonic for season 3; Landman for season 2; Beauty in Black for season 3; Down Cemetery Road for season 2; Heated Rivalry for season 2.

• TV shows that were cancelled: Hotel Costiera

Fashion & Beauty

• Beyonce, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams are the co-chairs of next year’s Met Gala.

• New York Fashion Week is officially banning fur.

• Can beauty culture is 2025 ever be free of the male gaze?

• The ‘Three Piece Rule’ style rule is going viral on TikTok

Lifestyle

• Everything. about the fight against deep fake pornography.

• Australia has banned social media for users under the age of 16.

• Why is Gen Z turning to Etsy witches?

• The 4-7-8 method will help you fall asleep faster, according to Vogue.

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So recently I put on the film Susters on Showmax and it got me thinking about how effective the road film is, how it depicts the growth of a relationship and how it applies to the South African context.

If you haven’t seen the film, it tells the story of three adopted sisters (played by Diaan Lawrenson, Quanita Adams and Leah van Niekerk) who get together after their adoptive mother dies. Joined by their mother’s nurse Frans (Sean Marco Foster) the women set off on a road trip to spread their ashes at their holiday home by the sea as she requested. The sisters, who haven’t spoken in years and live separate lives, are forced to bond as they stay at a creepy guesthouse, visit a drag show/karaoke bar, spend time at an orphanage, and care for a pet snake.

The journey that these women go on, is both literal and figurative. They travel from point A to point B. But they also start the journey as strangers and end as sisters. This symbolism works so well and I wondered why more South African films don’t use this genre to tell their stories.

South Africa is a country where road travel is used frequently. We only travel by air to major cities and the rest of the way we use buses and cars to get to a destination. So it seems rife for road movies. Two films that I feel used the genre right were Pad Na Jou Hart (2014) and White Wedding (2009). Both of these had two people on the trip together.

In Pad Na Jou Hart, Basson (Ivan Botha) is travelling from Johannesburg to Cape Town to go to his father’s funeral and on the way he meets a bohemian girl called Amory (Donnalee Roberts). She teaches him about being compassionate and learning to let go and also to live life a little looser. So the film is very much, Basson’s journey, but it is also a romance between Basson and Amory and how they go from being strangers to being a couple.

White Wedding has Elvis (Kenneth Nkosi) and his best man Tumi (Rapulana Seiphemo) travelling from Durban to Cape Town for Elvis’ wedding to Ayanda (Zandile Msutwana). The pair are forced to hitchhike and meet an array of interesting characters including British doctor Rose (Jodie Whittaker). Where Elvis is the strait-laced, serious bridegroom, Tumi is the philandering playboy and we watch as their friendship hits bumps like the road and they make up as they deal with their issues.

There are probably many Leon Schuster films that fit into this genre but to be honest I don’t feel like analysing that. All three of the films depict a romanticised view of South Africa. But White Wedding, in particular, tries to address some difficult topics such as racism. In one memorable scene, Elvis, Tumi and Rose are stuck in a small town where the townspeople are proudly racist. They go into a bar and the patrons stare at the fact that Rose, a white woman is with two black men. The bar displays the old South African flag (which is illegal). But in the fantasy world that they live in, the patrons soon realise that they have more in common with Elvis and Tumi and they all get along in the end. But this is the only time I saw something that is part of most people’s realities when travelling by road in South Africa.

In essence, the fact that both White Wedding and Pad Na Jou Hart focus on duos fit perfectly into the road film genre as created by the American forefathers like Bonnie and Clyde, Easy Rider, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Thelma and Louise.

“Either way, the road was destined to be travelled by a couple. This almost unwavering pattern seems a generic trace of the ideological contradiction between rebellion and tradition described above. Most often the road film couple is divided along these lines: one is more wild, the other more straight.”

- LADERMAN, DAVID. “WHAT A TRIP: THE ROAD FILM AND AMERICAN CULTURE.” Journal of Film and Video48, no. 1/2 (1996): 41–57.

Susters bucks this trend by making the group four people instead of two. But it also incorporates the best of the genre by having Jo (Lawrenson), Cecile (Adams) and Leksie (van Niekerk) go through the connection between rebellion and tradition in how it represents their relationship. Leksie and Frans are also in a bit of a romantic comedy as we watch as their feelings for each other grow during the pit stops on the trip.

The road trip aspect works especially well because it allows the characters to step away from their everyday responsibilities such as work and family and just focus on the relationships in front of them. Many of these films usually have timelines which adds to the drama. The characters need to reach their destination by a certain time which adds a sense of urgency to the storyline.

The 2023 film Runs in the Family is a great example of how the road film genre has developed in South Africa. The film is directed by Ian Gabriel and written by and stars his son Gabe. It tells the story of an Indian father and transgender son who take a road trip to break the son’s mother out of rehab. While we are still finding our cinematic voice post-apartheid, I think Runs in the Family deals with race, sexuality gender dynamics and core issues in SA like family in a way that feels more realistic. Check out our interview with Gabe Gabriel about the film here.

I’m curious to see how this genre will continue to develop as we explore topics that might be more controversial like how certain towns are extremely racist, or how poor some rural areas still are. What is the new South Africa in a place that is not urban? And how does dealing with these issues help us as individuals, and our relationships grow when we are on road trips?

Just a little letter about some things I’ve been thinking about:

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Recently Netflix announced that the series Too Much will not be returning for a second season. I do believe that if it had, it would have followed similar beats to the second season of Nobody Wants This, wherein it would have been repetitive and would have had us watching the couple break up and make up incessantly. For me, that’s not fun.

Both Too Much and Nobody Wants This are based on the creators own lives, and how they met their husbands. Too Much is created by renowned writer and director Lena Dunham, and tells how she moves to London after a messy breakup and ends up falling for a musician, her now-husband Luis Felber. Nobody Wants This is created by producer Erin Foster and tells about the beginning of her relationship with her now-husband Simon Tikhman. Although both of these relationships are fictionalised for the screen, there is still an element of truth to it which makes it so compelling. The problems these couples deal with are real, albeit exaggerated, but real. There’s no mistaken identity, no enemies to lovers, none of the usual tropes that we are familiar with. They have issues such as growing up in different styles of families, making compromises when it comes to religion and dealing with past addictions. I think this is important to understanding the dynamics of real relationships.

However, I think that in order to tell an honest story or, at least, a more well-rounded story you have to be a bit removed from the situation. What made Too Much and Nobody Wants This meh for me was that I knew how it was going to end. You could argue that we usually know how romantic comedies are going to end, and many romcom films are also based on the writers’ real-life experiences. But I think that’s why the medium of television is different. It does not have that predictability. And if it does, it usually fits with a limited series rather than a multi-season one.

We see this best in the case of How I Met Your Mother. When Craig Thomas and Carter Bays created the series in 2005, it was loosely based on their friendship and their experiences living in New York City. The show went on for nine seasons, and the finale that was broadcast in 2014 was based on Thomas and Bay’s original ending that they conceived of when they created the show. The problem was that the show had progressed so far, and the characters changed so much in the nine years that the original ending no longer made sense. But Thomas and Bays were committed to their original ending and that was the undoing of the series. If the series had ended in season one, it might have been remembered as a cute romcom series, and the ending would have made sense. But now, it still tops lists as the worst series finale. But if HIMYM had ended after season one, we would not have iconic moments such as the Slap Bet and Robin Sparkles. It would have literally just been like the film Definitely Maybe with Ryan Reynolds and Abigail Breslin.

I might be in the minority here, but I like that Too Much has ended after one season. As someone who loved Girls, I was very curious to see Lena Dunham’s next foray into television. I liked Too Much for the most part. Dunham’s comedic stylings and the way she approaches nuanced relationships is so well thought out and original. Dunham penned most of the episodes of the series but some episodes were written with her husband Felber, as well as Collier Meyerson (In The Know) and Monica Heisey (Schitt’s Creek, Workin’ Moms). But despite the extra support, this felt very much like Dunham and Felber writing about their whirlwind love story.

A lot of what I did not like about the series is that some storylines, plot points and supporting characters felt rushed. There was also nonsense of mystery because the story echoed Dunham and Falber’s own relationship so closely. I do think it worked well as a limited series. We got to see how their relationship progressed and how well they aligned with each other. It also had a lot to say about being open to new experiences, learning to communicate in relationships, and overcoming past traumas. If it was renewed for the second season, I fear it would have been much the same. With Girls we got to watch the relationships between the four main characters grow, change and break. If we got more seasons of Too Much, we would have seen Felix (Will Sharpe) and Jessica (Megan Stalter) fighting and then making up only to end up with the same conclusion – they are married. We got that at the end of season one, and there is no need for more. I would rather see Lena Dunham free to make more content.

Having just seen the second season of Nobody Wants This (and reviewing it here), I feel even more adamantly about this point. While the second season had its funny moments (I honestly love everytime Sasha is on my screen), it annoyed me how repetitive it felt. It felt as if we were just repeating narrative beats from the first season, so much so, that I knew how it was going to end because it mirrored the first. Like Too Much, Nobody Wants This is strongly based on Foster’s relationship with her husband. Erin Foster and her sister Sara also have a podcast like the characters in the show have, so listeners would already be familiar with Erin’s story. The series deals with the new relationship between Joanne (Kristen Bell) and Noah (Adam Brody) but it is based upon two questions: are they going to get/stay together and is Joanne going to convert to Judaism. Both those questions are answered if you look at Erin and her husband Simon Tikhman’s current relationship, they are married and Erin converted to Judaism. So it becomes obvious that we are going in that direction.

Nobody Wants This is a little different to Too Much in that there is a large writing room, which means different voices and points-of-view are added to the series, which is what I think makes it good. There’s more to care about than just those two questions surrounding Joanne and Noah’s relationship.The show has already been renewed for a third season, and I assume that will explore Joanne’s conversion journey, which will be interesting. But I hope that the show has an end-point in mind and will not keep going on and throwing difficulties at Joanne and Noah until the audience no longer roots for them (like with Ted and Robin in HIMYM). Because even if the series and characters develop away from each other, I don’t see Erin Foster ending the show anyway other than with Noah and Joanne together.

What’s the solution then? I think one-season shows work well in the romcom genre. I’m not even a fan of sequels of romantic comedies, because it’s either a repetition or they break up couples nonsensically because one of the actors is not able to return. Romcom books have found a fix in that sequels are usually focused on a different couple in the original’s universe, with the couples in the previous books in the background (a la Bridgerton). But most of the time this works best when the creators are not so heavily invested in seeing their relationship portrayed onscreen, and are more likely to change their original plan based on how the story and the characters develop.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

xoxo

Caryn

recs

documentary: Deaf President Now!

This great documentary tells the story of four students at the world’s only Deaf university in 1988 who started a revolution and, in turn, changed the course of history. It is available to watch on Apple TV.

what you missed in the news

Entertainment

• People think Robert Irwin will be the new Bachelor USA.

• Donald Glover revealed he had a stroke last year.

• TV Shows renewed: All’s Fair for season 2; The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for season 4; Love Thy Nader for season 2;

Fashion & Beauty

• Jane Birkin’s actual Hermes bag will go on auction.

• Loving for a new makeup look this festive? Try mistletoe makeup

• The Italian bob is the trending haircut of the season.

Lifestyle

• Why digital violence against women is rising.

• What’s a flow state on TikTok?

• If you’re feeling anti-social, the 5-3-1 rule might be what you need.

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Our Friday posts are about what you missed in pop culture this week. We are keeping track of all the gossip so that you don’t have to.

5 stories we’re obsessed with this week:

1. Whatever was going on between JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes in the Big Brother house:

I swear most of the people in this story I had not even heard about until a few weeks ago. However, due to social media, I became embroiled in the drama of the UK Celeb Big Brother house. JoJo Siwa of Dance Moms fame who is currently trying to become a popstar was sparking romance rumours with a Love Island contestant Chris Hughes despite JoJo being a lesbian and in a committed relationship.

People who watch BB every day started noticing they were becoming very touchy-feely. The two have been hanging out post-show, and post-JoJo’s breakup with her gf but say they are ‘just friends’. If anything, JoJo discovering that she’s queer and not just lesbian, and seemingly finding herself away from the primary influences of her life, is probably the best outcome for this situation. Vulture broke it down here.

2. It’s time to stop pretending the MacG podcast is anything but misogynistic drivel

I’ve seen this film before, and I didn’t like the ending. Covering entertainment and pop culture and/or just being on South African social media you’ll notice that every couple of months there is a MacG scandal. Now I’m not just saying this based on social media’s reaction to MacG, I’ve watched the show a few times for research and each time I’ve left feeling a little icky with how they speak about women. The latest scandal has MacG asking why Minnie Dlamini can’t keep a man and suggesting that it’s because her private parts smell funny. A grown man. In 2025. Women For Change broke down the dangers of his platform here:

3. Streets are saying BJ Novak and Delaney Rowe are dating

If you saw the above headline and thought ‘who’ and ‘WHO?’ you would be correct. You might know BJ Novak for his role as Ryan in The Office or for being Mindy Kaling’s permanent plus one. Delaney Rowe is the girl from TikTok who does skits about being a girl in a rom-com. This might be a crazy link-up but it weirdly does not surprise me about BJ Novak.

4. Who should star in the new version of The Bodyguard?

I could do a whole post on this but apparently, there’s a new version of The Bodyguard (1994) in the mix and oc the rumours are flying around about why would be cast. Some are saying Taylor Swift, I heard a wild rumour about it being Kim Kardashian. I doubt they have cast anyone yet, and these things sometimes ruminate in the production cycle forever (there was an A Star Is Born version with Beyonce at one point before the Gaga one). MY top options would be: 1. Cardi B (I just love her magnetic energy), 2. Ariana Grande (because she can act and do the whistle notes), 3. Halle Bailey (Because she can sing and act) 4. Doja Cat (because I love her); 5. Madison Beer (lets see how she acts).

5. It’s almost the first Monday in May

The Met Gala will be taking place this coming Monday. The theme based on the upcoming exhibition is ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’ and the dress code is ‘Tailored for You’. The Gala will be co-chaired by Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams and Anna Wintour, will LeBron James as an honorary chair.

If you want to know more Khensani posted a great newsletter about it here:

Hanger Management

My 2025 Met Gala Predictions

Every year, really funny and smart people will generate Met Gala Bingo Cards with some predictions as to the evening’s beige carpet, like ignoring the theme altogether, cultural appropriation, unintended political commentary or Cara Delevigne being weird…

Read more

a year ago · 19 likes · 1 comment · khensani

Other news you should know about:

Entertainment

• TV shows that got renewed this week: Diarra from Detroit, Married at First Sight Mzansi, North of North, Geek Girl, Wild Cards

• Sex Education’s Emma Mackey will play the White Witch in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia movies.

• Two original cast members are leaving Fire Country.

• The last Afrikaans show on SABC 2 has now ended.

• RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Jiggly Caliente died at age 44.

• The Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame announced their Class of 2025 which includes Outkast and The White Stripes.

• Harry Potter’s Rupert Grint and Angus, Thongs’ Georgia Groome have had their second child.

• There is a Desperate Housewives reboot in the works from Kerry Washington’s production company.

• Here are the nominations for the 2025 Tony Awards.

• Laura Harrier and her fiance Sam Jarou have broken up.

• Rugby player Handre Pollard and his wife are expecting their second child.

Fashion & Beauty

• Is the viral salmon sperm facial worth it?

• Drake’s fragrance house just released their first Eau de Parfum

• Looking for nail inspo? Try bubblegum ice cream nails.

• Why’s everyone obsessed with these weird labubu dolls?

• Can TikTok’s caveman method give you mouldy skin? -

Lifestyle

• How can you tell if you’re in a situationship?

• The South African town where you can pay for almost everything with Bitcoin.

• All about dating doom-scrolling.

Social Justice

• Trump’s anti-immigration policy is turning international students off from wanting to study in the US.

What was in the Tuesday Post this week?

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Just a little letter about some things I’ve been thinking about:

So in the news…last week Monday, Pope Francis died at age 88 from a stroke after a bout of health-related issues. Pope Francis was an amazing man who made huge strides in the Catholic church during his time as Pope (2013 - 2025) and consistently preached about love, inclusivity and humility. He was laid to rest on Saturday. A great film to watch about Pope Francis is The Two Popes on Netflix which has been one of my faves. 

On the lighter side, that does mean that there will be a new conclave (where a new pope is elected) happening soon. It has been scheduled to take place from 7 May 2025. Since the recent release of the film Conclave (2024) everyone now sort of knows what happens at a conclave so everyone’s eyes are on the Vatican. 

However, while theologically I don’t agree with a lot in the Catholic Church, and the elitism always bothered me, I will admit that I think it makes for excellent fictional content (Spotlight is forever one of my favourite films, followed closely by Sister Act II: Back in the Habit) and the drama around the rituals and the drip is what I live for. 

As we’re about to head into a news cycle that is filled with information about various cardinals, doctrines and scandals, I thought I would do a fun, little listicle that depicts some of my favourite hot priests (*Catholics only, so I, sadly, had to leave out Tom Hiddleston in The Essex Serpent) in fiction:

1. My boys from Conclave

First on the list, it's the men of the moment, the characters of Conclave. I cannot, and will not, pick favourites (even though I have been called out for my love of Stanley Tucci). Right now, I’m leaning towards the problem child Tedesco (Sergio Castellito) just because he hits that vape so iconically. But Bentinez (Carlos Diehz) is so adorable and seems like a nice guy in real life that I can’t help but stan. Notable mention to my man Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) for carrying his consistent stress so gracefully.

2. David Acosta in Evil

This, for me, is one of the most underrated recent television series. Although incredibly terrifying at times, Evil was well-written and had some compelling storylines. David Acosta, played by Mike Colter (known for Luke Cage and The Good Wife), starts in season 1 as a Catholic priest-in-training who is tasked with investigating supernatural claims and doing exorcisms if need be. We watch as he deals with his doubts around his faith, his attraction to his co-worker, etc., as he prepares for his ordination. This might sound casual, but if you watch the show, you’ll see what I mean about him being incredibly hot in here. IMO he’s hotter here than in Luke Cage. 

3. Hot Priest from Fleabag

Okay, this one was too obvious that I almost didn’t want to add it. There is no list, no ranking, no utterance of hot priests in this world without mentioning Andrew Scott’s Hot Priest character in Fleabag season two. Listen, there’s very little I can say that hasn’t already been said (probably by me too), but Scott’s acting, the chemistry with Phoebe Waller-Bridge and the excellent writing make this one of the most iconic characters. The priest-ness of it all also adds something new but complicated to the forbidden romance aspect, and his devotion to God despite his love for Fleabag makes this character so heartbreaking but interesting.

4. Father Tedeschi in Immaculate (2024)

Now, Father Tedeschi (Álvaro Morte) is not the one you want to be rooting for in Immaculate. This might be a spoiler, but he ain’t the good guy in this film, and he does some heinous things. BUT he is really hot lol. While I had quite a few problems with the narrative in Immaculate, and I think there is a lot they could have done better to make it more compelling and even scarier, Morte was so good at playing the charming villain that I can’t hate it too much. 

5. Stephen Colbert as Father Michael in The Mindy Project

I might be alone in this one, and honestly, I don’t care if I am. In my humble opinion, the best Stephen Colbert has ever looked is as Father Michael O’Donnell in the season 3 episode of The Mindy Project, “Confessions of a Catho-holic”. Mindy (the character) even comments that he’s “hot as hell”. It was also just a very funny episode, and this list gave me a great excuse to rewatch it. 

Wait, is there anyone I left out?

xoxo

Caryn

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As per the last newsletter, we have now separated our weekly newsletter into two and Friday’s posts will just about what you missed in pop culture this week. We are keeping track of all the goss so that you don’t have to.

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5 stories we’re obsessed with this week:

1. Apparently, Liz Hurley is now dating…Billy Ray Cyrus:

I have been a Liz Hurley fan since she first walked out in that paper clip dress. There is iconic, and then there is Liz Hurley. I was very vexed this week to find out that she is currently dating human garbage pile Billy Ray Cyrus. What is happening in the world? Can she get him to sort out his drama with his kids? Is he going to cause her to have straggly hair, too? According to Billboard, the two starred in a film called Christmas in Paradise in 2022 (sounds fake but okay), and then she reached out to him recently because she saw he was going through some tough times. Let’s see how this pans out.

2. The Americans are coming after Tyla again

Lmao, at this point it’s becoming a full-time hobby. Last weekend, Tyla performed at Coachella, and, of course, she got the usual praise, the usual ‘this all sounds the same’, the usual ‘why isn’t [x] getting the hype that Tyla is getting?’ But alongside all of this, there was Twitter drama, again.

A user pointed out the resemblance between the outfit she wore to Britney Spears’ and Tyla replied that she didn’t take inspo from Britney, she just liked the outfit. That prompted another user to say that she is a copycat (lol) and ‘too full of herself’, and Tyla responded with ‘STFU’. And now, people are calling her arrogant, etc. Firstly, Tyla mustn’t respond to all these trolls, and secondly, why do people care so much about these little little things?

3. Moja Love is glorifying abuse…again

Never far from a scandal, DStv channel Moja Love is in the news again. The channel features a range of reality shows. The show in question is Isencane Lengane, which depicts a polyamorous marriage. Complaints made about the show to the BCCSA and from the NGO Women For Change is that it depicts an abusive relationship, while the channel is arguing that they are showing the truth and not glamorising the relationship.

You can read more about it here.

4. A Clueless revival? As if!

Guys, what are we doing? In the news this week, it was announced that Clueless will be returning as a television series with Alicia Silverstone playing Cher. Granted that Alicia Silverstone is now 48 years old, we can assume it’s probably about Cher’s children. It’s interesting to note that Silverstone will be playing Cher and not the TV version of the character, Rachel Blanchard (who recently played the mom on The Summer I Turned Pretty). Will the storylines from the OG TV series be null and void? The sequel series is, however, being produced by the film’s director, Amy Heckerling and will be written by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, who famously wrote The O.C. and the original Gossip Girl. So, do we think Josh and Cher are married? I don’t see Paul Rudd making an appearance. Also, will Stacy Dash return to acting? All pertinent questions. (Also, apparently, Royal Pains is also coming back? Seriously, who asked for that?)

5. Tracee Ellis Ross and the younger man debate

The discourse machine is once again in motion. Tracee Ellis Ross revealed on an episode of Michelle Obama’s podcast, IMO, that she prefers to date men who are younger than her. She said:

“A lot of men my age are steeped in a toxic masculinity and have been raised in a culture where there is a particular way that a relationship looks. And anything that starts to smell of that, for me? I did enough of it, where I was controlled and felt like I was a possession or prize. I have no interest in it. And I will not do it again.”

Of course, people are assuming she means like 19-year-olds instead of 30-year-olds. But people are usually men, so we can just ignore that.

Other news you should know about:

Entertainment

• TV shows that have been renewed this week: Temptation Island US for S2; The Golden Bachelor for S2; Sweet Magnolias for S5

• TV shows that have been cancelled this week: Poppa’s House; Clean Slate; The Summit

• Camille Razat is not returning to Emily in Paris for season 5

• Kristen Stewart and Dylan Meyer tied the knot!

• Former NFL player and current podcaster Shannon Sharpe has been accused of sexual assault.

• Tiger King’s Joe Exotic got married to a fellow inmate in prison.

• Heartstopper will end with a feature film finale.

• Kehlani’s Cornell performance has been cancelled after her pro-Palestine remarks.

• How did The Jennifer Hudson Show become a TikTok sensation?

• Anele Mdoda is married! She released pics of her traditional wedding.

Fashion & Beauty

• All about the TikTok viral tankini trend

• The Crocs Winnie the Pooh collection is very adorable.

• Nail trend? The kids are sporting stained glass nails

• Kendrick Lamar has been announced as Chanel’s brand ambassador

• All the juice about Lewis Hamilton’s Dior capsule collection

• David Beckham is designing a BOSS Collection

• In hair trends, the mermaid wave is back

• This Spring/Summer, the hottest makeup look is ‘berry girl’

Lifestyle

• How to make your bed-rotting chic…

• How Nando’s amassed a huge collection of South African art

• According to studies, South Africans are now marrying later.

• How to spot a travel scam?

Social Justice

• Read about how Gisele Pinochet’s daughter, Caroline Darian is fighting for survivors everywhere

• Protect the Dolls is more than just a slogan; all about the viral T-shirt that is raising money for Trans Lifeline.

until next week

xoxo

Caryn

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Just a little letter about some things I’ve been thinking about:

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In my second week in London, I decided to go and watch a movie in the middle of a random Tuesday. I had some free time and had heard of the independent cinema, The Prince Charles Cinema, that consistently screened Wong Kar-Wai films. Now, I have always wanted to watch In The Mood for Love, but could never find it streaming on any of the platforms in South Africa. So I thought this was all aligning perfectly. I could catch a screening of it, which was just a bus ride away at 3 pm on a Tuesday. 

Now, being used to going to cinemas by myself in South Africa, I expected the cinema to be quite empty. It was the middle of the day, in the middle of the week, after all. Even more, this is a film that screens at this cinema at least every two weeks, and it’s a Hong Kong film that was released in 2000. Even though it’s popular, I thought nah, it can’t be that bad. But, much to my shock, the cinema was packed. Granted, it was a small cinema, but there were bodies on either side of me. This was my first taste of London film culture. 

Over the next six months, I had many such stories. That’s not to say that every screening I went to was packed. Like everywhere, it is obvious that blockbusters are what most people flock to, but I am surprised by the act of attending cinema viewings that take place here. 

In November 2024, I saw that the South African documentary Milisuthando was playing at a cinema in Harlesden called the Lexi Cinema. This is a bit of a distance away from me, but I trekked all the way there to see it, because I wanted to support. I mean, it was great to see the documentary on a big screen, but they didn’t need my support because despite the cinema being small, it was full. I didn’t hear another South African accent, and by the chatter of the people leaving the cinema, it was evident that they had no idea what the film was about before they went in. That flabbergasted me, because this was just an average night out for these folks. 

And, of course, it had me thinking, if this film were showing at a cinema in South Africa, would it be full after the opening night? What makes others so eager to see our films, but us not eager to see our own work?

I recently read a great article by Khanyi Zondi in Mail and Guardian about cinema culture in South Africa, and I don’t want to rehash what she said because she wrote about it so eloquently. 

“The audience is no longer a passive recipient of art — every piece of content needs to have an audience road map. They are active participants in the story’s life cycle. It’s time to embrace this shift and start building a meaningful, symbiotic relationship between filmmakers and viewers.

The solution lies in designing an audience-first experience. People, especially Gen Z, are increasingly willing to spend money on unique experiences. A study by Eventbrite reveals 75% of Millennials prefer spending their money on experiences rather than physical goods. Cinema can tap into this growing demand.”

• Zondi, 2025, Mail and Guardian

And she is absolutely right. This is what I have realised while studying film cultures and being part of an active one here…people want experiences. I will pay to see my favourite film from the 1970s in the cinema again. I will pay to see film noirs from the 1940s, films by Chantal Akerman or classic rom-coms. I will pay to see panels discussing the future of rom-coms, on black women in film, and on the role of cinema in democracy. But I will also pay to sit in a beautiful, quaint cinema that feels like a vibe. 

Even more than that, even when I can’t pay (which is often tbh), there are affordable options here. You can take out annual memberships to cinemas or cinema chains which give you a certain number of free tickets, discounts on other tickets, events or snacks, and more. There are discounts for students, the elderly, and more. There are accessible screenings for those who are differently abled, screenings where you can bring your babies, etc. The cinemas put their audience first, and it shows in the growth in attendance. 

So, what is the future of cinemas in South Africa? I agree with Khanyi that independent cinemas such as the Labia and the Bioscope are a step forward. Experiences like open-air cinemas and drive-ins are fun too. I, unfortunately, don’t think that having to walk through a mall food court to go to the cinema will ever be a vibe. 

We need to be honest that, as well as building up our local film industry, we need to be building up our local film culture. Those two work in tandem. Festivals and special events need to be not just for industry professionals but for cinema-goers too. We need more festivals, film seasons, independent theaters and panel events. We need to make cinema fun again, and something more than just a thing we do to catch the latest Oscar winner or superhero film.

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recs:

film: Black Bag (2025)

The latest spy thriller from Steven Soderbergh is a treat, especially if you watch it in the cinemas. From my News24 review:

“Black Bag is the type of film that sizzles under the surface. Every shot, angle, and strike of a chord seems to promote a type of energy that has seemed to be missing from other films in recent years. This was a watch that kept me glued to the screen from the very first tracking shot of Michael Fassbender walking through a crowded street until the last shot, reminding me of how fun films can be.”

Read the full review here.

some notes on the newsletter

We have made some big decisions regarding the newsletter which will be shared in the coming weeks. We will be separating it into two newsletters - columns and recs in the Tuesday newsletter, and celeb news in the Friday one.

xoxo

Caryn

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Just a little letter about some things I’ve been thinking about:

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So I’ve been living in London for over a month and struggling with categorising my race. I’m very aware that the term ‘coloured’ has negative connotations in other parts of the world, so I try not to use it even though it’s all I’ve ever used at home. I, sometimes, say I’m mixed but one experience led to someone asking me what the mix is and I just wildly gestured and said ‘Everything.’ Someone else asked me if it meant that I was ‘like Trevor Noah’ and I had to respond with ‘no, more like Tyla.’

You might be thinking, ‘Caryn, why do you need to categorise your race at all? It surely isn’t such a big thing.’ However, for me it is. I am very aware of the fact that while I am light-skinned and often not mistaken as white back home where nuances are more known, where people don’t know the context and only know South Africa to be ‘white’ or ‘black’ it’s easy to mistake me as being white. And I’m very proud of my coloured heritage.

About two years ago, I did my Ancestry DNA test. The results of the test updates every year as they receive more data. This year’s results revealed that my highest percentages came from Central and Southern Philippines, Maritime Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore etc), the Deccan and the Gulf of Mannar (India, Sri Lanka) and England. It also revealed that I have ethnic origins in the Zulu people of Southern Africa, my Portuguese ancestry came from Azores and much more.

This type of test might seem pointless because it really has no bearing on the life we are living now. But, for me, it helps to understand my history and that it is so much more than just black and white. It is the story of slaves that arrived in South Africa from Asia, it is the story of travellers from the Philippines, it’s the story of the Zulu people who fought for their land, it’s a story of coming from everywhere, but also coming from nowhere.

As a lot of my research and coverage over my journalistic and academic career has been around coloured people in the media, it has been something I’ve continually been focused on. This means that when I consume media from South Africa, I am usually tuned in, in how coloured people are represented.

In August, I had the opportunity to attend the Silwerskermfees as well as the Awards. Even though, this year, I saw way more coloured people nominated, still too few people won, especially when they were doing amazing work on television. I also managed to watch three excellent films centred around the coloured experience which I wanted to share with you (two are available to watch right now):

1. Brassie Vannie Kaap documentary

Directed by Lauren Scholtz, this documentary is an interesting dive into the lives of the pioneering Afrikaans hip-hop group Brasse Vannie Kaap as they carved a space for coloured people in Afrikaans music. It’s so insightful and a great way to celebrate coloured people in the arts (especially hip-hop) and not let their stories go untold. I interviewed Lauren and you can read the interview here. It’s available to watch on Showmax now.

2. The Station Strangler documentary

In the case that rocked the Cape Flats in the 90s, this documentary focused on the case of the Station Strangler and the effect it had on the Mitchell’s Plain community. So many times, crime on the Flats is ignored because it is seen as typical but what this documentary does is it shows how it affects the residents, and it is really well done. I interviewed the director Nadine Cloete here and Dr. Ian-Malcolm Rijsdijk also wrote an excellent piece for The Conversation about the documentary and true crime. It’s available to watch on Showmax now.

3. Hier.Na

My favourite film that I saw at the festival was Hier. Na. It tells the story of Eric Burgess (David Isaacs), an atheist who has to deal with his Muslim wife’s Janazzah after she passes away. It is a stunning film that made me cry and laugh and recognise so much of the coloured and Muslim community. It also boasts an excellent lead performance by David Isaacs that honestly had me floored. It should be available to stream soon.

What is the coloured narrative? Is it the drama of Arendsvlei and Suidooster, the comedy of Mince Jou Hare or the facts of The Station Strangler documentary? It’s all of these, it’s none of these. The point is that we need more stories about coloured people across genres, fiction and non-fiction, historical and current. We need to constantly question stereotypes, to show the messy and the clean side, to start new conversations. As Tyla famously said, when it comes to our racial identity, “it’s and not or”. And the only way to incorporate the ‘and’ is to create more.

So I will constantly be searching for the coloured narrative, and celebrate the amazing work that coloured creators are doing to tell our stories. Without support, our stories will go untold, our people will be forgotten and the iconic moments that shaped us will fade away. We are the keyholders in telling the coloured narrative.

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Some other articles I’ve written recently:

• I reviewed the adorable rom-com series Nobody Wants This for News24.

• I reviewed the dystopian YA film Uglies for News24.

• I reviewed the enthralling drama series The Sympathizer for News24.

recs:

TV: The Good Place - Recently, I’ve been looking for an easy watch to vedge out with after a long time and I through on The Good Place on Netflix. I’m not going to lie, with the first few episodes I was like meh but after episode four I was laughing out loud and hooked. It’s a fun show, with a great cast. It’s available to stream on Netflix.

Film: The Idea of You - I’m always kinda reticent of films that are based on fanfiction, so I was going to watch this but I really do love Anne Hathaway. And one Friday night I was like, maybe I should watch an Anne-romcom that I have never seen before. While this isn’t amazing, it is still very cute, and Nicholas Galitzine and Anne Hathaway have great chemistry. It’s available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

what you missed in the news:

Entertainment

• Music pioneer Quincy Jones has passed away.

• Gisele Bundchen is pregnant with her first child with boyfriend Joaquim Valente.

• Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been accused of raping a 10-year-old boy.

• Home Improvement actor Zachary Ty Bryan was arrested for yet another DUI.

• Honestly, one of my favourite internet moments is the story about the Timothee Chalamet Lookalike Contest.

• How Netflix’s new feature allows you to share your favourite scenes on social media.

• Shawn Mendes kinda addressed rumours about his sexuality mid-concert.

• Ian Somerhalder is no longer acting.

• The Wayans Brothers are making a new Scary Movie.

• Let’s look into Chris Brown’s history of violence.

• Teri Garr, the star of Young Frankenstein and Tootsie, has passed away.

• Awards season has started! Here are the nominations for the Gotham Awards.

• Channing Tatum and Zoe Kravitz have broken up.

• Nina Dobrev and Shaun White are engaged.

• Margot Robbie has given birth to a baby boy.

• Dawson’s Creek’s James van der Beek has been diagnosed with bowel cancer.

• Outer Banks will end with season 5.

• Lana Condor got married to Anthony De La Torre.

Fashion & Beauty

• The best celebrity Halloween costumes according to Vogue, according to The Cut, according to Cosmopolitan, according to Harper’s Bazaar

• All the best looks from the CFDA Fashion Awards.

• This season’s IT hair colour is ‘bonfire blonde.’

• Maluma has a new athleisure line out.

• The chocolate glaze nail trend is super in right now.

• Bag charms are everywhere this season.

• Britney Spears is launching a jewellery brand called B Tiny.

• All the fashion from the South African Music Awards.

• Does it matter if you have high contrast or low contrast face?

Lifestyle

• Girls can now join the Drakensberg Boys Choir.

• The best Black Friday price trackers.

• Collins Dictionary calls ‘brat’ its word of the year.

• Therapists say adult tantrums could be a healthy coping mechanism.

Social Justice

• “Some white teachers at Pretoria High School for Girls don't greet black colleagues.” This article had me floored.

celeb crush of the week:

Kinda loved John Mulaney on SNL:

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Happy South African Women’s month!

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In honour of Women’s Month and staying true to my ethos of getting more people to watch local films, I thought I’d list five of my faves that women directed.

There are plenty more that I still need to watch but these are just some of my faves:

1. Do Your Worst: dir: Samantha Nell

This comedy is centred around the friendship between Sondra (Shannon Ezra), a messy, single actress and Carla (Kate Liquorish) her married friend. It has some great comedic moments and is fun to watch. It’s available to watch on Netflix.

2. Glasshouse: dir: Kelsey Egan

This dystopian thriller is set during a time when a dementia-like toxin wipes people’s memories. A family isolate themselves in a greenhouse but their idyllic home is disrupted when a stranger joins them. This film was so aesthetically pleasing and has the type of story that sticks with you. It’s available to watch on Showmax.

3. Nommer 37: dir: Nosipho Dumiso

Perhaps one of the most popular SA films, based on Hitchcock’s Rear Window, it tells the story of Randel, a man in a wheelchair who witnesses a crime. This film isn’t always easy to watch but it’s incredibly well made and extremely realistic at points. It’s available to stream on Showmax.

4. Toorbos: dir: Rene van Rooyen

Based on the novel by Dalene Matthee, a woman who leaves the forests of Knysna to be with her husband in the town. I was enchanted by this film, the story as well as the cinematography is fantastic. It is available to stream on Showmax.

5. Umakoti Wethu: dir: Nozipho Nkelemba

A woman marries her dream man and moves with back to his hometown. However, things start getting a little problematic when his first love enters the picture again. This film honestly surprised me and told a story that felt so specific and unique. It’s available to stream on Showmax.

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Some other articles I’ve written recently:

• I got to speak to the (Emmy-nominated) stars of The Bear, Ebon Moss-Backrach and Lionel Boyce for News24

• I reviewed the fun South African rom-com Lobola Man for News24.

• AND I spoke to the lovely Melissa De Vries from the new local sitcom Mince Jou Hare for Showmax.

some personal news

Because I love you all the most, I wanted to share something big here first. I have been named one of the Chevening Scholars for 2024/2025 and received a full scholarship to do my MA in Film Studies at University College London. So I’m leaving SA in September for a year. Not much will change on this front, other than my location. But thanks to all of you who have supported me through the years, I could not have gotten this far without you.

a caryn-core movie rec

I’ve been trying to rewatch some of my old favourites to see if I was right to be so obsessed with it. So, for every newsletter I’ll give you a rec off of my ‘Caryn-Core Watchlist’ that I stand by. This week it’s:

One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

I loved this film as a child, it was one of my first VHS tapes and I even had a Dalmatian-themed party for my 8th birthday. I caught the film on Disney+ the other day and was proud to say that it holds up. The animation style is classic and stunning, the story is witty and fun, I adore fashion icon Cruella De Vil and I still very much want my own Dalmatian puppy.

what you missed in the news:

Entertainment

• Zac Efron is happy and healthy following his hospitalisation.

• Harry and Meghan launched their new initiative, the Parents’ Network to support parents whose children have been harmed by social media.

• Drake announced he will be releasing a new album with PartyNextDoor.

• Kehlani’s custody battle is turning nasty with her ex claiming that she’s in a cult.

• Taylor Swift’s Vienna concerts were cancelled due to terror threats.

• Okay, what happened with the behind-the-scenes drama of It Ends With Us?

• Travis Scott was released after being arrested in Paris.

• Singer Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose are now divorced.

• The MTV VMA nominations are out, and our girl Tyla scored three!

• Legendary local actress Connie Chiume has passed away.

• Mia Le Roux has been named as Miss South Africa 2024.

• Daisy Ridley revealed that she’s been diagnosed with Graves Disease.

• Nelly was arrested for drug possession.

• Adele is engaged to Rich Paul.

Fashion & Beauty

• Sooo 30+ folks, it seems the bubble hem is back.

• The hair colour at the moment is witchy brunette.

• Check out these awesome Olympic nail art designs.

• Blake Lively has introduced a new haircare line.

• Talking about Blake, she’s been wearing a lot of floral. These are all her press tour looks.

• All those Shein and Temu packages are about to be hit with VAT from next month.

• These are the top celeb engagement ring trends of 2024.

Lifestyle

• One Tiktokker is saving a 400-year-old tradition of watermen fishing. -

• One of 2024’s biggest wellness trends is mindfulness retreats.

• The internet is obsessed with the Australian breakdancer Raygun.

Celeb crush of the week

In honour of the last of the Olympics last night:

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This week’s newsletter is all about the things I’ve been obsessed with lately:

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The Emmy-nominees came out on Wednesday. This celebrates the last year in television. This is the first year without Succession and Ted Lasso, so it’s very interesting what shows have risen up and grabbed nominations.

As always, for those who want to catch up with the shows before the winners are announced on 15 September, I made a little list of where you can watch them (legally) in South Africa:

Amazon Prime Video

• Fallout - In a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles brought about by nuclear decimation, citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from radiation, mutants and bandits.

  Nominations: Best Drama Series; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Walter Goggins; Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

• Mr and Mrs Smith - John and Jane Smith become secret agents for a mysterious organisation. Their work puts both their skills as spies and their relationship to the test. The two have to deal with a world full of dangers.

  Nominations: Best Drama Series; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Donald Glover; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Maya Erskine; Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series - Paul Dano; Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series - John Turturro; Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series - Michaela Coel; Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series - Sarah Paulson; Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series - Parker Posey; Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series; Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

• Red, White and Royal Blue: Alex Claremont-Diaz, the first son of the United States, and young Prince Henry fall in love. However, considering their high-profile public lives, they must keep their relationship a secret at all costs.

  Nominations: Outstanding Television Movie

Apple TV+

• Palm Royale - In 1969, an ambitious woman aspires to cross the line between the haves and have-nots to secure her seat at America's most exclusive, fashionable and treacherous table: Palm Beach high society.

  Nominations: Best Comedy Series; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Kristen Wiig; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Carol Burnett

• Loot - After divorcing her husband of 20 years, Molly Novak must figure out what to do with her $87 billion settlement; she decides to reengage with her charitable foundation and reconnect with the real world-finding herself along the way.

  Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Maya Rudolph

• Slow Horses - Following a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents -- and their obnoxious boss, the notorious Jackson Lamb -- as they navigate the espionage world's smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.

  Nominations: Best Drama Series; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Gary Oldman; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Jake Lowden; Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series - Jonathan Pryce; Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series; Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

• The Morning Show - An inside look at the lives of the people who help America wake up in the morning, exploring the unique challenges faced by the team.

  Nominations: Best Drama Series; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Jennifer Aniston; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Reese Witherspoon; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Billy Crudup; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Mark Duplass; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Jon Hamm; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Nicole Beharie; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Greta Lee; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Karen Pittman; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Holland Taylor; Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series - Marcia Gay Harden; Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

• Hijack - When Flight KA29 is hijacked during its seven-hour journey from Dubai to London, corporate negotiator Sam Nelson tries to use his professional skills to save everyone on board.

  Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Idris Elba

• Lessons in Chemistry - In the 1950s, Elizabeth Zott's dream of being a scientist is challenged by a society that says women belong in the domestic sphere; she accepts a job on a TV cooking show and sets out to teach a nation of housewives way more than recipes.

  Nominations: Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series - Brie Larson; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series - Lewis Pullman; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series - Aja Naomi Scott; Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series

Disney+

• Abbott Elementary - A group of dedicated, passionate teachers -- and a slightly tone-deaf principal -- find themselves thrown together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life.

  Nominations: Best Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Quinta Brunson; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - Tyler James Williams; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Janelle James; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Sheryl Lee Ralph; Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series; Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

• Only Murders in the Building - Three strangers share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one.

  Nominations: Best Comedy Series; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series - Steve Martin; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series - Martin Short; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Selena Gomez; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - Paul Rudd; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Meryl Streep; Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series - Matthew Broderick; Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series - Da’Vine Joy Randolph

• Reservation Dogs - Following the exploits of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma who steal, rob and save in order to get to the exotic, mysterious and faraway land of California.

  Nominations: Best Comedy Series; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series - D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai

• The Bear - A young chef from the fine dining world comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop after a heartbreaking death in his family.

  Nominations: Best Comedy Series; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series - Jeremy Allen White; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Ayo Edebiri; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - Lionel Boyce; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - Ebon Moss-Bachrach; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Liza Colon-Zayas; Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series - Jon Bernthal; Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series - Bob Odenkirk; Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series - Will Poulter; Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series - Jamie Lee Curtis; Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series - Olivia Colman; Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series; Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

• What We Do In the Shadows - Three vampires, Nandor, Colin Robinson and Nadja, struggle to keep up with the duties and responsibilities of everyday life as they reside in an apartment in New York.

  Nominations: Best Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series - Matt Berry; Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

• Shogun - Set in Japan in the year 1600, Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him, when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village.

  Nominations: Best Drama Series; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Hiroyuki Sanada; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Anna Sawai; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Tadanobu Asanu; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Takehiro Hira; Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series - Nestor Carbonell; Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series; Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

• Quiz Lady - Anne and her estranged train-wreck of a sister, Jenny, must work together to help cover their mother's gambling debts.

  Nominations: Outstanding Television Movie

• Feud: Capote vs. The Swans - Acclaimed writer Truman Capote ruins his friendships with the Swans, a socialite group of New York City high society, by writing a thinly veiled fictionalized account of their scandalous and hedonistic lives.

  Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series - Tom Hollander; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series - Naomi Watts; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series - Treat Williams; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series - Diane Lane; Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series

• Under The Bridge - The hidden world of the teenagers accused of a savage murder reveals startling truths about the unlikely killer.

  Nominations: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series - Lily Gladstone

DStv/DStv Stream

• Fargo - A disparate set of characters deal with a plethora of crimes in different time periods. The only thing they share in common is their connection to the Midwest, USA.

  Nominations: Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series - Jon Hamm; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series - Juno Temple; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series - Lamorne Morris; Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series; Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series

• The Sympathizer - Near the end of the Vietnam War, a spy who was embedded in the South Vietnam army flees to the United States and takes up residence in a refugee community,

  Nominations: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series - Robert Downey Jr

Netflix

• The Crown - The series follows the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

  Nominations: Best Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Dominic West; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Imelda Staunton; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Jonathan Pryce; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Elizabeth Debicki; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Lesley Manville; Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series - Claire Foy; Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series; Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

• The Gentlemen - When aristocratic Eddie inherits the family estate, he discovers that it's home to an enormous weed empire, and its proprietors aren't going anywhere.

  Nominations: Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

• Girls5Eva - A '90s girl group with just one hit record gets a second chance at success when a young rapper decides to sample their song.

  Nominations: Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

• 3 Body Problem - A learned educator delivers a lecture shedding light on the three-body problem in a detailed and easy-to-understand manner.

  Nominations: Best Drama Series

• Baby Reindeer - Dealing with a female stalker, a man is forced to face a dark, buried trauma.

  Nominations: Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series - Richard Gadd; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series - Tom Goodman-Hill; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series - Jessica Gunning; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series - Nava Mau; Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series; Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series

• Ripley: A wealthy man hires down-on-his-luck grifter Tom Ripley to travel to Italy to urge his vagabond son to return home; Tom's acceptance of the job is the first step in a life of deceit, fraud and murder.

  Nominations: Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series - Andrew Scott; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series - Dakota Fanning; Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series; Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series

• Scoop: An insider account of how the women of "Newsnight" secured Prince Andrew's infamous 2019 interview about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

  Nominations: Outstanding Television Movie

• Unfrosted: In 1963, Kellogg's and Post, sworn cereal rivals, race to create a pastry that will change the face of breakfast forever.

  Nominations: Outstanding Television Movie

• Griselda - Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization shows Griselda Blanco's journey from Medellín to becoming "the Godmother" of Miami's drug empire.

  Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series - Sofia Vergara

• Black Mirror: In an abstrusely dystopian future, several individuals grapple with the manipulative effects of cutting edge technology in their personal lives and behaviours.

  Nominations: Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series

Showmax

• Curb Your Enthusiasm - Larry David, a famous television writer and producer, gets into various misadventures with his friends and celebrity colleagues in Los Angeles.

  Nominations: Best Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series - Larry David

• The Guilded Age - Marian Brook, a rural girl, moves to New York after her father's death. However, things get complicated when she must assimilate into the clan of a railroad tycoon.

  Nominations: Best Drama Series; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Carrie Coon; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Christine Baranski

• Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty - The Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team, became one of the most successful and revered in the 1980s.

  Nominations: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series - Tracy Letts; Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

• True Detective: Night Country - The season is set in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska, and follows the investigation behind the disappearance of eight men from a research station.

  Nominations: Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series - Jodie Foster; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series - John Hawkes; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series - Kali Reis; Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series; Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series

• Mr Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie - Monk steps out of retirement as his stepdaughter's wedding turns tragic when her fiancé dies in a bungee jumping accident.

  Nominations: Outstanding Television Movie

• Fellow Travelers: Hawkins Fuller and Tim Laughlin, whose paths converge at the height of the Lavender Scare of the 1950s.

  Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series - Matt Bomer; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series - Jonathan Bailey; Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series

xoxo

Caryn

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I’m not usually a fan of prequels. I hate knowing how something ends. So I have been slow to watch Furiosa, and I haven’t gotten into House of the Dragon yet. When every other Harry Potter fan was clamboring for a Marauders prequel I was like I’m good, I know they all end up dying young anyhow.

But they have been growing on me, and don’t always feel like cash grabs in order to squeeze more out of an IP. Some of them really do add more to the original story or tell a unique tale that’s still kind of fun.

So without adieu, these are some of my favourite prequels:

1. Wonka (2023)

I watched this recently and while it didn’t feel very ‘Willy Wonka’-like to me, it still was a very charming film. Tonally it was different, I thought it was much sweeter but it still felt as colourful and fun as a Roald Dahl film. It tells the story of Willy Wonka and how he began his chocolate empire. It’s available to rent on DStv Box Office, Apple TV or Google Movies.

2. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)

Now I’m a Hunger Games girlie, there’s something about the way Suzanne Collins writes this world that I just love. I was very skeptical about this prequel about President Snow (played by Donald Sutherland in the original films) but this is done so well. It tells an intriguing and new story while still adding to the lore that enrichs the original trilogy. It’s available to rent on DStv Box Office, Apple TV or Google Movies.

3. X-Men: First Class (2011)

Is it a perfect movie? No. But it does set up the X-Men characters and world in a fun and entertaining way. I love James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender as Charles and Erik, and their chemistry is off-the-wall. Even though there is an entire prequel trilogy this is the one I keep returning to. It’s available to stream on Disney+.

4. The Godfather Part II (1974)

A nice OG. For me, what makes The Godfather Part II work so well is because it is part prequel, part sequel. It tells the story of Vito Corleone (played by Marlon Brando in the first film) while it mirrors the rise of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino). It is so well done and even better than the first film imo. It’s available to stream on Netflix.

5. Rogue One (2016) and Andor (2022)

Okay so I’m cheating with this one and including a series as well. I’m not a biiiiggg fan of the Star Wars prequels but I really enjoyed Rogue One as I felt it added to the story we already knew while still telling something new. In 2022, the first season of Andor was released and it told the story of one of the rebels, Cassian Andor and god what a brilliant show? Honestly, it told the story of the Rebellion better than the original trilogy in my opinion. Both are available to stream on Disney+.

What are some of your favourite prequels?

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TV show rec:

Killing Eve

I recently finished season one of Killing Eve, and I am HOOKED. It tells the story of a Eve (Sandra Oh) who is recruited to track down a serial killer called Villanelle (Jodie Comer) and the obsession the two have with each other. It is excellently written, and the acting is superb. It’s available to stream on Netflix

Some other articles I’ve written lately:

• I reviewed the new Zac Efron/Nicole Kidman rom-com A Family Affair for News24.

• I wrote about 5 LGBTQ+ South African films that you should watch for News24.

• I reviewed the second half of Bridgerton season 3 for News24.

xoxo

Caryn

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article: why we need film criticism in south africa?

I did a deep delve into the importance of film criticism in South Africa and how it is the key to starting the next film movement in the country. Read it here.

what you missed in the news:

Entertainment

• Vanessa Hudgens and her husband Cole Tucker welcomed a new baby.

• Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake are opening a bar in Scotland.

• Lindsay Hubbard of Summer House is pregnant.

• John Cena is returing from WWE after Wrestlemania 2025.

• BARBIE GIRL Margot Robbie is pregnant.

• Britney Spears says she is done dating men.

• Prime Video has released the trailer for it’s first original South African film called The Shakedown.

• The streets are saying that Tyga is dating Sabrina Claudio.

• The Devil Wears Prada 2 is in the works and is set to star Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt.

• Julia Fox has come out on TikTok as a lesbian.

• Gypsy Rose Blanchard has announced that she’s pregnant.

• Shrek 5 will be released in July 2026.

• Madelyn Cline and Pete Davidson have broken up.

• Showmax’s prices are going up.

• Ellen DeGeneres has said that she’s quitting show business.

• John Mulaney and Olivia Munn got married.

• Popeye and The Shining actress Shelley Duvall passed away.

• Alexandra Daddario is pregnant.

• Presumed Innocent has been renewed for season 2.

Fashion & Beauty

• Vogue did a great editorial about whether smaller labels can thrive in Paris.

• Marta Kostyuk played a Wimbledon match in a tennis version of her wedding dress.

• Lewis Hamilton launched his +44 merch line.

• Could the ‘business bob’ be the hairstyle of the summer?

• Pusha T has been announced as the new Louis Vuitton House Ambassador.

• Troye Sivan has been named as the first makeup ambassador for Rabanne.

• Wimbedon style is all about the summer suit.

• Everything you need to know about the new Dolce & Gabbana beauty line.

• ‘Paisley’ is the print of the summer.

Lifestyle

• Google Translate has added two new South African languages.

• Apparently, South Africa ranks amongst the top 10 most relaxing accents in the world.

• Do you live on the most expensive street in SA?

• Chronobiology workouts is the latest lifestyle trend to go viral.

• What does ‘GGG’ mean on Tinder?

• Why are TikTokkers asking their partners the ‘strawberry’ question?

• Does the TikTok ‘Drunken Monkey’ sleeping hack work?

• South Africa will be cracking down on financial influencers.

Social Justice/Politics/News

• How Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ was used in the protests in Kenya.

• What’s happening with George Clooney and Joe Biden? -

Celeb crush of the week

Just going to leave you with the Gladiator II trailer:

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Soooooo I watched Challengers last weekend and I LOVED It. The film written by Justin Kuritzkes and directed by Luca Guadagnino stars Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor as three tennis proteges who become romantically entwined with each other.

The film has been marketed as being sexy but it is also incredibly well crafted in that it feels as tense and as thrilling as a sports match. You pick your teams, you get enthralled in the game, you watch as the ball or Tashi (Zendaya) manipulates the players and the game. It’s a stunning piece of art, and I’m so keen to watch it again.

And if you did watch it and you are looking for some other films about trios, threesomes and thruples, I’ve made a list of five of my personal favourites that I think have similar energies to Challengers:

1. Y tu mamá también (2002)
   Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, it tells the story of two best friends – Tenoch and Julio – who go on a road trip across Mexico with a beautiful older woman named Luisa. On the way they learn about themselves, their country and what their future will look like.

2. The Prestige (2006)
   Although not technically about a thruple, maybe it should have been. The Prestige is directed by Christopher Nolan and it’s about two rival stage magicians who battle over the perfect teleportation trick. Scarlett Johansson plays Olivia, both magicians’ assistant who plays a similar role as Zendaya, as being the one who goes between the two.

3. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
   Another one starring Scarlett Johansson, this time she and Rebecca Hall are on a summer holiday in Spain when they meet a handsome painter named Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem). But when his ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) re-enters the scene it becomes a little complicated.

4. The Favourite (2018)

   This compelling tale, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos tells the partly true story of Queen Anne of England (Olivia Colman) who is assisted through her illness by her aide Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) but this all falls apart when Sarah’s cousin Abigail Hill (Emma Stone) starts to weasel her way into the Queen’s confidence.

5. Past Lives (2023)

   The most recent one on the list, this Oscar-nominated film was written and directed by Celine Song who just so happens to be the wife of Challengers writer Justin Kuritzkes. It has a different tone to Challengers but it is also a story of a woman caught between two men. The first man is her childhood friend from Korea and the other is her American husband. It’s a beautiful story, told in a way that interweaves the lives of all three stunningly.

What are some of your favourite throuple films?

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Comic-Con Cape Town, a bit of a sizzle…

I attended Comic-Con Cape Town last week and it was an experience. Although it included Kids Con and a lot more panels and events, it still felt a little sparse this year. I was also super broke and couldn’t indulge my need to shop as I usually do, but there was also not anything I was disappointed that I didn’t buy. Perhaps I’m changing or Comic-Con needs to get more sponsors for next year.

I did manage to catch some great panels about content creation, film production in South Africa and breaking into the comics industry internationally. And I got to interview Guardians of the Galaxy’s Sean Gunn and Lucifer’s Lesley-Ann Brandt, which will be published on News24 soon. And, of course, the cosplays were amazing. Just getting the chance to see some of the pieces that were put together felt like a treat.

You can read more about my thoughts on Comic Con on News24 here.

Some other articles I’ve written lately:

• I reviewed the chilling Ripley series based on the popular novel by Patricia Highsmith, starring Andrew Scott for News24. It was well-made and effectively built upon the tension and thrill of the source material.

• I also interviewed the lovely Shimmy Isaacs for Showmax about her new series Mince Jou Hare which she created and is based on the life of her mother. You can read the interview here.

xoxo

Caryn

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article: off-roads and detours: exploring the South African road film

I’ve been delving into South African films about road trips recently and what makes this interesting for me is how hectic the SA roads are. We have small towns that still haven’t been segregated, and we have dangers on the road, but we are also a country where most people travel via the road so it should be rife for the road film.

I looked at films like Sisters, Pad Na Jou Hart, White Wedding and Runs In The Family and discussed how the genre has developed and can be used to reflect post-apartheid South Africa.

You can read it on our website here.

video: nepo babies

This week on TikTok, we spoke about a complex nepo baby connection that I still find shocking.

what you missed in the news:

Entertainment

• Local actor Mpho Sebeng from Savage Beauty has passed away.

• Singer Mariah the Scientist has been arrested for battery in Atlanta.

• TV Shows that have been renewed this week: Night Court for S3, Lopez vs Lopez for S3, The Chi for S7, Heartbreak High for S3, When Calls the Heart for S12, Alert: Missing Persons Unit for S3, Lioness for S2, Law & Order: Organised Crime for S5, The Valley for S2, Ted for S2.

• TV shows that have been cancelled/announced to be ending this week: Extended Family after S2, Chad after S3, Not Yet Dead after S3, The Conners after S7, Housebroken after S3, Constellation after S1, The Other Black Girl after S1.

• Hailey and Justin Bieber announced that they are expecting their first child.

• What’s the deal with the beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake?

• The late Chance Perdomo’s role in Gen V will not be recast in season 2.

• There’s a new Blade Runner sequel series in the works starring Michelle Yeoh.

• The Fantastic Four movie has found its’ Galactus.

• There is a sequel to Red, White and Royal Blue in the works with the original cast returning.

• There is a new Nelson Mandela docuseries by Mandla Dube that will be released

Fashion & Beauty

• Check out some of the most iconic looks from this year’s Met Gala.

• South African designer Thebe Magugu's AW23 Folklorics collection is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute's Spring 2024 Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion exhibition.

• Apparently, quiet luxury nails is 2024’s biggest nail trend so far.

• Perhaps because of Challengers, but tenniscore hairstyles are now trending.

• South Africa is currently planning on cracking down on Temu and Shein.

Lifestyle

• You can now stay at the X-Men ‘97 mansion with Airbnb.

• Amazon has launched in South Africa.

• Tinned fish is now South Africa’s most popular snack.

• Oprah Winfrey has apologised for how she has contributed to toxic diet culture.

Social Justice/Politics/News

• The first black constitutional court judge in South Africa, Yvonne Mokgoro has passed away.

• SA asks the ICJ to order Israel out of Rafah and let journalists into Gaza.

Celeb crush of the week

Honestly, I’m obsessed with Tyla’s Met Gala look:

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Welcome back to Crushing On Magazine!

We are undergoing some changes over here at Crushing On. We are no longer just a podcast production company but will create all types of content.

Just a little rundown:

1. This newsletter will still be up and running and providing you with news, gossip and more. But it will also collate a little summary of the content we will produce on other platforms.

2. Our longer-form written content that we used to do here, will live on our website, but we will link to the pieces in the newsletter and on social media.

3. Our podcast, Crushing On with Caryn, which has been the capstone of our content for the past four years, will now only be a limited series following specific themes. We are busy working on an exciting new series that is research-based and features a lot of voices in SA entertainment. We will reveal more in a few months. Our previous conversations will still be available to listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

4. Our entertainment chats and interviews will now be housed on our YouTube channel. In our pivot towards video content, we thought it would be best to show you the convos we are having.

5. Short-form video content such as reviews, little vids, events etc, you can find on our TikTok account. It’s growing and we are having a lot of fun over there so make sure to follow us.

6. And then, you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content and to get updates on all stuffs.

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article: south african horror films: a sign of the times?

As a self-proclaimed scaredy-pants, I’ve never really indulged in horror. When simply glancing at my unanswered emails sends fear and dread into my soul, why am I looking to get that from a film? But as a film-lover, this gaping hole in my viewing history is starting to become embarrassing.

In my quest to watch more South African films, I have been noticing that there has been a rise in South African horror. And one day people are probably going to write long research papers on it but for now, I just wanted to speculate a little.

Read more

video: catch me a killer review

I reviewed the new Showmax crime series Catch Me A Killer. If you are a News24 subscriber you can read the full review here or you can watch my little video on TikTok about it here:

what you missed in the news:

Entertainment

• The chaos of Drake vs Rick Ross beef explained.

• Real Housewives updates: Kenya Moore is returning to RHOA, Robyn Dixon was fired from RHOP, and Crystal Kung Minkoff is leaving RHOB.

• A controversial new book, When Love Kills has made allegations about the violent relationship between rapper AKA and Anele Tembe.

• Show that has been renewed: The Rookie for season 7; For All Mankind for season 5; The Witcher for season 3; Elsbeth for season 2; Fallout for season 2

• Show cancellations: So Help Me Todd and CSI Vegas.

• Meghan Markle is making jam! As part of her newly launched company American Riviera Orchard, one of the first products will be jam.

• Henry Cavill and his gf Natalie Viscuso are expecting a baby.

• Nelly and Ashanti have also announced that are engaged and are expecting a baby.

• Kid Cudi has announced his engagement to Lola Abecassis Sartore.

• The first announced cast for The Office reboot is Downhill Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore.

Fashion & Beauty

• According to Cosmopolitan, these are the best outfits that celebs wore to Coachella.

• Bag charms are apparently theeee luxury trend of 2024.

• The Reebok athleisure x Anime Bing collaboration is giving a 90s vintage vibe.

Lifestyle

• WhatsApp’s Meta AI has launched in South Africa, here’s what you should know.

• Apparently, Italy is expecting a tourism boom after the success of the Netflix show Ripley.

• The relationship red flag you should know about is future faking.

Social Justice/Politics/News

• There is an unprecedented amount of turtles stranded in the Western Cape and Turtle Conservation Centre is raising money to conserve, safe and the stranded hatchlings.

• Learn about how this e-bike company is using their resources to battle youth unemployment in Cape Town.

• The Nike U.S. Women’s Olympic team uniform has been criticised for how sexist it is.

Celeb crush of the week

I’m watching Ripley at the moment and kind of obsessed with him.

xoxo

Caryn

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It’s awards season and the Oscar nominations are finally out. This means tons of people have been asking me where they can watch the movies that are nominated, and I’ve taken on the task of hunting down where you can watch them in South Africa.

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You can find the full list of nominees here. The 96th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, 10 March 2024. So you have just over a month to catch up with everything. Sometimes films take a while to show this side of the world (sometimes they never do), which is always disappointing. But here are the ones you can watch:

Currently in cinemas:

• The Color Purple - The musical version of the popular book/film tells the story of Celie who faces many hardships but finds her strength with the help of a sisterhood. Nominations: Actress in a Supporting Role: Danielle Brooks

• Poor Things - Brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, a young woman runs off with a lawyer on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Nominations: Best Picture; Best Director - Yorgos Lanthimos; Actress in a Leading Role - Emma Stone; Actor in a Supporting Role - Mark Ruffalo; Adapted Screenplay; Cinematography; Costume Design; Original Score; Makeup and Hairstyling; Production Design; Film Editing

• Godzilla Minus One - Post-war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptised in the horrific power of the atomic bomb. Nominations: Visual Effects

• Napoleon - A look at the military commander's origins and his swift, ruthless climb to become the emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine. Nominations: Production Design; Visual Effects; Costume Design 

Side-note: these films are available to rent but are also still showing at speciality cinemas like the Labia:

• Killers of the Flower Moon

• Past Lives

• May December

Coming soon to cinemas:

• The Zone of Interest (02 February) - A Nazi commandant tries to build a dream life for his family near the Auschwitz concentration camp. Nominations: Best Picture; Best Director - Jonathan Glazer; Adapted Screenplay; Sound; International Feature Film

• The Holdovers (09 February) - A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school remains on campus during Christmas break to babysit a handful of students with nowhere to go. Nominations: Best Picture; Actor in a Leading Role - Paul Giamatti; Actress in a Supporting Role - Da’Vine Joy Randolph; Original Screenplay; Film Editing

Available to rent:

• May December (DStv Box Office/Apple TV/Google Play) - Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance, a married couple buckle under the pressure when a Hollywood actress meets them to do research for a film about their past. Nominations: Original Screenplay

• Oppenheimer (DStv Box Office/Apple TV/Google Play) - It tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the journey he comes on to create the atomic bomb and the effects it has on him and his future. Nominations: Best Picture; Best Director - Christopher Nolan; Actor in a Leading Role - Cillian Murphy; Actor in a Supporting Role - Robert Downey Jr.; Actress in a Supporting Role - Emily Blunt; Adapted Screenplay; Cinematography; Costume Design; Sound; Original Score; Makeup and Hairstyling; Production Design; Film Editing

• Past Lives (DStv Box Office/Apple TV/Google Play) - Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, were separated when Nora’s family emigrated from South Korea. Decades later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront destiny, love and the choices that make a life. Nominations: Best Picture; Original Screenplay

• Barbie (DStv Box Office/Apple TV/Google Play) - Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colourful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans. Nominations: Best Picture; Actor in a Supporting Role - Ryan Gosling; Actress in a Supporting Role - America Ferrera; Adapted Screenplay; Original Song - I’m Just Ken, What Was I Made For?; Costume Design; Production Design

• Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One (DStv Box Office/Apple TV/Google Play) - Ethan Hunt and the IMF team must track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity if it falls into the wrong hands. Nominations: Visual Effects; Sound

• Golda (DStv Box Office/Apple TV/Google Play) - The film depicts the life of Golda Meir, the 4th Prime Minister of Israel, particularly during the Yom Kippur War. Nominations: Makeup and Hairstyling

Available to stream on Apple TV+

• Killers of the Flower Moon - Love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal as Mollie Burkhart, a member of the Osage Nation, tries to save her community from a spree of murders fuelled by oil and greed. Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director - Martin Scorsese; Actress in a Leading Role - Lily Gladstone; Actor in a Supporting Role - Robert De Niro; Cinematography; Original Song - Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People); Costume Design; Original Score; Production Design; Film Editing

Available to stream on Netflix

• Maestro - On the verge of securing a golden opportunity, American conductor Leonard Bernstein begins a tumultuous relationship with actress Felicia Montealegre, upturning their lives. Nominations: Best Picture; Actor in a Leading Role - Bradley Cooper; Actress in a Leading Role - Carey Mulligan; Original Screenplay; Cinematography; Sound

• Nyad - The true-life story of 64-year-old marathon swimmer Diana Nyad attempts to become the first person ever to swim from Cuba to Florida. Nominations: Actress in a Leading Role - Annette Bening; Actress in a Supporting Role - Jodie Foster

• Society of the Snow - In 1972, a Uruguayan flight crashed in the remote heart of the Andes, forcing survivors to become each other's best hope. Nominations: International Feature Film; Makeup and Hairstyling 

• Rustin - Bayard Rustin, advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., dedicates his life to the quest for racial equality, human rights and worldwide democracy. Nominations: Actor in a Leading Role - Colman Domingo

• El Conde - Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet is a two-hundred-and-fifty-year-old vampire. Now tired of his life, he wants to die at last after the disgrace and family crises he has caused. Nominations: Cinematography 

• American Symphony - Musician Jon Batiste sets out to compose a symphony just as he learns his life partner, author Suleika Jaouad’s cancer is back. This documentary is a portrait of two artists at a crossroads and a meditation on art, love and the creative process. Nominations: Original Song - It Never Went Away

• The After - After losing a family member to a violent crime, a shattered ride-share driver picks up a passenger who forces him to confront his grief. Nominations: Live Action Short Film

• The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar - Henry Sugar, a wealthy man, decides to take on an extraordinary challenge - he wants to master an extraordinary skill to cheat at gambling games. Nominations: Live Action Short Film

• Nimona - A knight is framed for a crime he didn't commit, and the only person who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona, a shape-shifting teen who might also be a monster he's sworn to kill. Nominations: Animated Feature Film 

• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - In an attempt to curb the Spot, a scientist, from harnessing the power of the multiverse, Miles Morales joins forces with Gwen Stacy. Nominations: Animated Feature Film 

Available to stream on Disney+

• The Creator - As a future war between the human race and artificial intelligence rages on, ex-special forces agent Joshua is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI. Nominations: Sound; Visual Effects

• Flamin’ Hot - Richard Montanez, the son of a Mexican immigrant, was a janitor at Frito Lay when he came up with the idea for Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Nominations: Original Song - The Fire Inside

• Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny - Daredevil archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary dial that can change the course of history. Nominations: Original Score 

• Elemental - In a city where fire, water, land, and air residents live together, a fiery young woman and a go-with-the-flow guy discover something elemental: how much they have in common. Nominations: Animated Feature Film 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 - Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill must rally his team to defend the universe and protect one of their own. If the mission is not completely successful, it could lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them. Nominations: Visual Effects

• The Last Repair Shop - In Los Angeles, a few devoted craftspeople keep over 80,000 student instruments in good repair. Nominations: Documentary Short Film

Available to watch on YouTube:

• Pachyderme - Like every summer, Louise stays with her grandparents in the countryside for a few days during the holidays. It will snow at the height of summer and a monster is going to die. Nominations: Animated Short Film. Watch it here.

• The Barber of Little Rock - Barber Arlo Washington forms a nonprofit community bank, with a visionary approach to a just economy that could reshape the future of banking. Nominations: Documentary Short Film. Watch it here.  

• Island in Between - A short documentary about the relationship with Taiwan, the United States, China and the islands of Kinmen. Nominations: Documentary Short Film. Watch it here.  

No news of availability in SA yet:

So these are the titles that I struggled to find on streaming services or on the upcoming lists at the cinema. This is a very legitimate newsletter so there might be other ways to watch these films online but you might need to do that research yourself.

• American Fiction (probably going to come to Amazon Prime Video)

• Anatomy of a Fall

• Invincible

• Knight of Fortune

• Red, White and Blue

• Letter to a Pig

• War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko

• Bobi Wine: The People’s President (probably going to come to Disney+)

• The Eternal Memory

• Four Daughters

• To Kill a Tiger

• 20 Days in Mariupol

• The ABCs of Book Banning

• Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó (coming to Disney+)

• Io Capitano

• Perfect Days

• The Teachers’ Lounge

• The Boy and the Heron

• Robot Dreams

xoxo

Caryn

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Like many millennials, Mean Girls (2004) quotes have become part of my vernacular. The film has surpassed others to become almost legendary. So naturally there was a lot of trepidation about this remake. People complained that it was simply too soon to remake the film and that there was no new ground to cover, and while in certain degrees they were right, there was still a lot of fun to be had with this musical remake. 

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Similarly to the original, it follows a teenager Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) who goes to high school for the first time after being homeschooled by her mother in Kenya. While at North Shore High School, she befriends the popular girls, known as the Plastics, while working with the outsiders to take the Queen Bee, Regina George (Renee Rapp) down. 

The changes to the film are minimal but the biggest addition is the fact that this version is a musical. The stage musical was based on the 2004 film and had a book by Tina Fey and music by Jeff Richmond. It received 12 Tony nominations. The fantastical and campy nature of the story makes it perfect for the musical treatment and the scenes where the characters break out into song and dance feel natural. However, it did feel as if the film could have done with more musical moments and the shifts from talking to singing could have been better. If you are going to do a musical, embrace it fully. 

Another factor of the new version is that it is updated for the Gen Z audience and not in a way that feels cringey and out-of-touch. The wardrobe, while controversial when the trailer and images were released, feels somewhat right for the characters. It looks at how teenagers today dress, and while we might not like it, it suits the setting of the film. Instead of the scenes of the characters talking directly to the camera like in the original film, this one has social media clips seemingly taken off of Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. I really enjoyed these sequences and it seems realistic to how teenagers in 2024 would react. We have seen similar versions of this in recent teen comedies like To All the Boys and Do Revenge. But seeing how whimsical this film is, the social media integration fits in well.

The new young cast does an amazing job. Angourie Rice is always a delight in all of her roles, and she does a good job as Cady. She retains the innocence and curiosity that Lindsay Lohan brought to the role in the original film, while still making it her own. However, the greatest star of the film is Renee Rapp as Regina George. Every time she is on the screen, she brings across strong energy and charisma. It is easy to see why the characters are charmed by her. The character of Regina is a difficult one that balances between being an absolute villain and being sympathetic so we care about her redemption. Although this version feels slightly tamer than the original (and more tame than Cruel Intentions and Do Revenge) she is still a character that I would define as iconic. 

Watching the film, the songs are a lot of fun. I found myself bopping along with them and especially enjoying the dance sequences. But the only ones that stuck with me after the film were ‘Sexy’ which was performed by Karen (Avantika) at the Halloween party, and ‘World Burn’ which was performed by Regina. ‘World Burn’ in particular is a great song, which I think many fans will enjoy.

Tina Fey also wrote this version of the film, and what I enjoyed is that she punched up the original script. She updated a lot of the jokes, and the storyline felt slightly refreshed. She trimmed the edges and did not make it a carbon copy of the original film. There are also many meta references to the original film and other properties that make the film seem very self-aware. But it is still an adaptation of the same film, so there are not many surprises in the film if you have seen the original. So if you are going in expecting a different outcome or different story, you will be disappointed. This is more about enjoying the ride than getting to a new destination. 

Despite the many narrative angles that are focused towards Gen Z, the film also very much banks upon the nostalgia of the audience. They know you watched the original, they know you enjoyed the original, so jokes that have now become iconic like ‘Four for you, Glen Coco’ and ‘She doesn’t even go here’ have prime billing in the film and they seemingly made sure to include it knowing you would laugh at it again. When watching it in the cinema I felt the utmost nostalgia and it gave the film a sense of familiarity and comfortability that one might not have with a new film. 

So should you watch it? What I did enjoy about seeing this in cinemas was that it was a fun time. The film is funny, and campy and has many quotable moments which garnered a great response out of the audience. If you are looking for a night out and a guaranteed good time, this is the film for you. But if you are looking for something new and challenging, this will fall short. It can never compare to how groundbreaking the original was, and perhaps it is not trying to, maybe we should just enjoy it for what it is.

Mean Girls is currently available to watch at cinemas.

xoxo

Caryn

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Recs:

TV Show: The Bear S2

It just won a ton of Golden Globes last weekend and it very much deserves it. If you haven’t started this excellent show yet, let this be your sign. It’s about Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) who takes over his brother’s restaurant in Chicago after his death. It’s a brilliant show, with a great cast and moments that stay with you long after the show is over. It’s available to watch on Disney+.

Film: Barbarian

I’m not one for watching scary movies, but I thought I’d give this one a shot. Honestly, I paused it many times when I got too scared BUT I will say it was extremely intriguing, not too scary and kept me guessing until the end. It is about a woman who goes to an Airbnb she booked only for it to be double-booked with someone else and what happens from there. It’s available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

Here’s what you missed in the news:

Entertainment

• The Little Mermaid’s Halle Bailey gave birth to a baby boy named Halo.

• Jonathan Majors did his first major interview with GMA after receiving a guilty verdict in the domestic violence case.

• Ghosts’ Rose McIver has announced that she’s pregnant.

• All the winners from this year’s Golden Globe awards.

• What were Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift gossiping about at the Golden Globes?

• Actor Patrick Schwarzenegger is engaged to model Abby Champion.

• Despite dating rumours, Martin Short and Meryl Streep claim that they are just good friends.

• 50 Cent said his New Year resolution for 2024 is to start practising abstinence.

• There will be a Mandalorian and Grogu Star Wars film.

• Selena Gomez is set to play singer Linda Rondstadt in a biopic.

• A whole lot of The Last of Us season 2 cast members were announced such as Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Young Mazino as Jesse and Isabella Merced as Dina.

• TV shows that were renewed this week: Ahsoka for season 2; The Drew Barrymore Show for season 5.

• TV shows that were cancelled this week: Our Flag Means Death after season 2; Julia after season 2; The Good Doctor will end after season 7.

• The Gilded Age’s Carrie Coon has joined the cast of The White Lotus.

• Black Coffee is receiving medical attention after an accident on a plane to Argentina.

• Singer Kali Uchis is pregnant.

• Dua Lipa is dating actor Callum Turner.

• FKA Twigs’ new Calvin Klein advert was banned in the UK because it presents her as a ‘sexual object’.

• Actor Simu Liu will host the 2024 People’s Choice Awards.

Fashion & Beauty

• Here’s Marie Claire’s best red carpet looks from the Golden Globes.

• Okay but have you seen Gillian Anderson’s vagina dress that she wore at the Golden Globes.

• According to Refinery29, these are the jewellery trends for 2024.

• WMagazine’s list of the best red carpet looks from the Governors Awards.

• Hello Kitty and Adidas have collaborated on a pair of slides.

• ColourPop has launched an official Twilight makeup collection.

• According to Bustle, these are the hair colour trends for 2024.

• All about nuance nails, the latest nail trend.

• Check out this sandwich bag that Pharrell Williams created for Louis Vuitton.

• From Pokemon to Tamagotchis, why are so many luxury brands incorporating 90s toys in their brand?

• According to Bustle, these are the piercing trends of 2024.

Lifestyle

• Looking for an exciting new travel destination? This is the world’s highest train line.

• Here are 10 sustainable travel destinations.

• An interesting article about why you can’t stop watching TikTok cheating scandals.

• Barbie just released a ‘women in film’ collection.

Social Justice

• Read all about South Africa’s case of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

• In the US, the Supreme Court allowed Idaho to block emergency abortions.

Podcast Recap

In case you missed it, we chatted to top journalist Theolin Tembo about 2023’s hot movies that you need to watch here.

Celeb Crush of the Week

I’m kinda obsessed with this new song by Ariana Grande.

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