Mafrica (2008)

Directed by: Paul Ruven | 87 minutes | comedy, adventure | Actors: Norman Anstey, Ashley Callie, Leroy Gopal, Mosa Kaiser, Charmaine Kweyama, Frank Lammers, Martin Le Maitre, Antonio David Lyons, Patrick Mofokeng, Mmabatho Mogomotsi, Rampai Mohadi, Kenneth Nkosi, Terry Pheto, Ron Smerczak

Not a commercial comes along without Frank Lammers having recorded him. His distinctive voice is also often used to announce programs. But Lammers (1972) is much more than a voice. In 1995 he graduated from the Theater School of Amsterdam. After roles in a few smaller productions, he got his first major role in 2000 in the feature film ‘Wilde mussels’, alongside Fedja van Huêt, with whom he became good friends. Lammers steadily continued to build a career as a film actor, with the highlights of the miniseries ‘De Enclave’ (2002), for which he received a Golden Image, and ‘De Dominee’ (2004). Lammers develops as a centipede who can be seen on stage and in TV series in addition to being on the silver screen. He even makes a name for himself as a singer, including in the musical ‘Route 66’. The provisional high point in his career came in 2006 when Lammers won a Golden Calf for his leading role in ‘Nachtrit’.

The role of the successful but immensely clumsy advertising director Frank Meutstege in ‘Mafrika’ (2008) fits Lammers perfectly. Fifteen years ago he shot a flagship commercial in Africa and now he’s back on his maligned continent to pick up a major prize. He prefers to lubricate him again as soon as possible, especially because he is about to marry his English fiancée (Ashley Callie). However, a fifteen-year-old African girl throws a spanner in the works. She claims to be Frank’s daughter. Because Frank can’t imagine this and he can’t wait to take care of a child, he tries everything he can to prove otherwise. The girl Sunny (Mosa Kaiser) can’t be his daughter, she’s a scammer. To prove his point, he decides to take her on a trip to the court in Fireville. During that trip, he not only gets to know Sunny and Africa, but also himself better. Doubt sets in: could she still be his daughter?

‘Mafrika’ was directed by Paul Ruven, who scored big in the mid-nineties with ‘Filmpje!’ (1995) by and with Paul de Leeuw. In the years that followed, he kept busy – Ruven wrote a book, among other things, in which he tries to describe the secret behind the great film successes in Hollywood – but there was no eye-catching release yet. When the Ministry of Foreign Affairs put down money for a film that would change the image that Dutch youth have of Africa, Ruven jumped in. ‘Mafrika’ is therefore primarily aimed at youth between the ages of twelve and eighteen and is therefore full of comic one-liners, which cannot miss their target. Especially in the beginning of the film, Lammers rages on in comical situations in which prejudices that exist about Africa and its inhabitants are confirmed or disproved. Lammers is perfect for the role of a cynical grumbler and gets some nice resistance from his African opponents. Sometimes it is very easy to score – the jokes about Frank’s surname ‘Mietstiekie’ are initially still acceptable, although they do go on for a very long time – but it is entertaining.

The second half of the film, in which the moralistic message has to be conveyed, is less strong. The relationship between Frank and Sunny blossoms naturally during the road trip, but the forced way in which the final chord is finally presented tastes a bit like viewer cheating. The promising, humorous beginning is in fact expertly killed in the last fifteen minutes. Lammers also seems to come out less well in this more sentimental part. Fortunately, the little Mosa Kaiser makes up for a lot. The (black) African actors, some of whom we have already seen in ‘Tsotsi’ (2005) and ‘Goodbye Bafana’ (2007), in fact all come across reasonably well. Less convincing is Ashley Callie, a wildly popular soap actress in South Africa who tragically died in a car accident shortly after the shooting of ‘Mafrika’. The fact that she does not come out well can also be because her character is simply not sympathetic (enough). Camera work and music are well done.

‘Mafrika’ won a Golden Calf at the Dutch Film Festival 2008 as audience favorite. It is not a cinematographic masterpiece, but this film by Paul Ruven is absolutely entertaining. Especially in the first half of the film, Ruven hits the nail on the head here and there. The fact that this film was made with government funds and therefore has to preach a moralistic message is up to that point, but with the artificial, sentimental ending the makers really go a step too far. The last fifteen minutes are therefore a blemish on an otherwise fine film with plenty to laugh about.”