Elalini (Place of Rest) - trailer

A 30 minute narrative film. Winner of 'Best Foreign Film' at the 33rd Student Academy Awards.

DIRECTORS STATEMENT:

Elalini follows the difficult emotional journey of a young South African woman as she tries to come to terms with her past.

It is a story, which underpins important values for a rapidly modernizing South Africa, those of forgiveness and redemption and the fundamental necessity of moving on, but never forgetting.




As Amareswar Galla said in his paper 'Authenticity: Rethinking Heritage Diversity in a Pluralistic Framework': 'Culture is not only about the preservation and continuation of heritage, but
also the process of evolution and change. It is about challenging eroded belief systems, finding meaning in those that still hold true, and adapting them to functional modern life. It is through this process that we become able to articulate who we are, share our differing meanings, and move on, whilst maintaining who we are.'




It is in this vein that Elalini unfolds, and in a fragile unity with past and present, that our main character Nomakhaya becomes able to build a meaningful future.




What better context for cultural product is there, in a society so in need of redefinition, an industry just beginning to blossom with it's own particular originality, than a film that serves as
testament to both our diversity as a nation and our strength as a people to forgive.




It is my hope that Elalini does not only provide you momentary, ultimately forgettable entertainment, but that it moves you to question your own relationship to the past. That it's beauty serves as a justification for hope, its tension proof of our change, and its resonance a wavering glimpse into our yet undetermined future.




Sincerely,
Tristan Holmes
Writer/ Director - Elalini

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• movie
• film
• oscar
• south
• africa
• motherhood
• drama
• student
• tristan
• holmes
• afda

[jnas1181]

The best student film I have ever seen...by far. Tristan.. I met you at the student Academy awards and I admire your work. This story is phenomenal and I wish you all the best. I can only hope to work with you one day in the future. Congrats to you my friend.

John Nasteff