Metamorphosis - The Remarkable Story of Granny Lee (excerpt)

"The granny that took on the apartheid state" 

In 1989 an eighty-one year-old white woman died in a car accident on a highway to Durban, South Africa. A not altogether uncommon occurrence -- except for the fact that the victim was in reality neither white nor a woman. 

Metamorphosis explores the life of one of South Africa's most colourful and intriguing characters. Leonard Du Plooy was born to a mixed race ("coloured") family in 1908, and spent the first part of his life teaching at the Christian Brothers' College in his hometown of Kimberley. Then he changed his mind. 

Moving to Johannesburg in his sixties he became the club scene's most famous drag queen and become known as "Granny Lee". And after overdosing on medication, Lee literally turned white overnight. She lived out the rest of her life as a white woman and notorious party animal, and when she died at eighty-one she became the first person of colour to be buried in Johannesburg's Westpark cemetery. 

Granny Lee's story merges the personal with the political, a unique and fascinating story set within the racially and sexually repressive era of apartheid South Africa. 

The winner of numerous awards in South Africa, Metamorphosis has been screened at film festivals throughout the world. 

2000, Underdog Productions

52 mins / 72 mins

The full film is available from Underdog Productions
contact info@underdog.co.za

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• granny
• lee
• underdog
• productions
• documentary
• drag-queen
• apartheid
• transgender
• political
• sexual
• trailer
• gay
• LGBT

[calasite]

I find it fascinating to know that we had our own Disco Granny. In the days of Studio 54 there was also a Grand Mother who used to party the night away at Studio who had entry into the club forever citing she was so much fun! She died of a drug overdose partying the way she always liked to. A South African Disco Granny makes me proud, especially considering what she stood for. I LOVE the disco era, how I wish I could have partied with her!

[Tulekker]

wow never thought id see granny on u-tube and latiffa to , great girls

[KLE34]

Outrageous character....bit before my time (I've only heard stories about her) I remember 1 story of her falling a few flights in a club only to get right back up and dance....FABULOUS !!! I wish I met her.

[wernztroy]

Bravo nicksum29!

[nicksum29]

Oh fuck off Leelutzu. Granny Lee is our icon - not yours.

[Leelutzu]

Sies man