A 'Lekker' Afrikaans Musical
Year: 2013
Running Time: 108 minutes
As a loyal fan of Glee, I found this delightful Afrikaans musical most entertaining. Bobby van Jaarsveld plays the Mr Schuster role of the motivational music teacher who gives his singing group, the Blokfluitjies, something to believe in - but without Mr Shu's whining and the penchant for Journey hits. Instead, the film features several foot-tapping sing-along Afrikaans pop songs performed by stars including Bobby, Leah, Bok van Blerk and Karlien van Jaarsveld.
The film starts by introducing the main characters to the audience:
Mr Conradie - the music teacher (though the attempt to make Bobby into an awkward nerd by giving him glasses and plat hair is a stretch - I mean, it's Bobby)
Ms De Bruin - the school's sexy physiotherapist, played by Leah
Mr Bredenkamp - the principal, who, like so many principals in real life, only cares about promoting sport at his school and is determined to get rid of the Blokfluitjies
Mrs Bredenkamp - his wife, the control freak who is never without a dust-buster, disinfectant and a string of pearls
Skaai - the mysterious emo girl
Marna - the plain Jane with a limited vocabulary of "yip" and "nope"
Murg & Been - two boys joined at the hip
Abe Junior - a trust fund baby who only speaks in English
Morne - the rock star, who has his eye on Marna
Liesl-Lee - daddy's girl, the principal's daughter, who has selfish motives for being part of the eccentric group of musicians
The music group are headed to a music camp to rehearse for a national singing competition, the first prize being a recording contract and music instruments to the value of R200 000. However, the principal has bad news: the Governing Body made an error with the budget so the music camp has to take place in conjunction with "veld school", a camp designed to toughen up the city kids through physical exercise and discipline. Meanwhile, the principal gives Ms De Bruin an instruction to distract Mr Conradie from the music - by any means necessary.
They arrive at the veld school and are welcomed with ominous signs: "Suffering is part of growing up", "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and "If you bleed it means you're still alive". We meet a team of intimidating drill sergeants - all wearing tank tops that show off their bulging biceps - played by Katlego Maboe, Arno Jordaan, Johan Venter, Danie Putter, Marco Spaumer and Andre Lotter (yay Rickus!). They make it clear that the children are in for a strict couple of days of intense training that is based on adherence to rules.
Several entertaining song and dance routines take place at poignant moments in the plot:
Timbuktu
After the principal completely ignores the Blokfluitjies in the final assembly, focusing only on the sports teams that will be touring in the holidays, Mr Conradie gives the group a motivational speech with a choreographed routine set to Timbuktu.
Snak na my asem
This is a Bollywood-inspired dance routine in which Mr Conradie starts fantasising about Ms De Bruin in her short jean pant who is already seducing him as per her directive from the principal.
Hoor hoe raas die stilte
This is where the children challenge the drill sergeants in the dining hall, who insist that they eat in complete silence.
Huil soos 'n man
Sergeant Major Fourie, played by Bok van Blerk, makes a dramatic entrance in a chopper and barks orders to the shells-shocked kids, telling them they need to toughen up.
Knie Lam
A frivolous pool party scene in which there is a Clark Kent-Superman moment when Bobby removes his glasses and shirt (in slow motion of course) and jumps into the pool.
'n Vrou wil dit hoor
A great acoustic rendition of one of Bobby's hits, sang with Morne around the campfire when Morne is discussing his feelings for Marna with Mr Conradie.
Ek het my hart op jou verloor
One of the soaring love songs of the film, when Mr Conradie realises that he is in love with the physio.
Superhero
It's the Superman - Batman - Iron Man - Spider man song! Performed by the boys and the drill sergeants when the latter have got rid of their camo attire and allow themselves to let down their hair a little.
Ek moes jou gesoen het
This is Ms De Bruin's message to Mr Conradie - however, her performance is interrupted by Morne who announced Marna is missing. Since there is always a dramatic moment at a dance, this is also where Liesl-Lee's plan to bring down the Blokfluitjies (at her father's request) is revealed, along with Ms De Bruin's involvement.
But will they find Marna in time? Will they be able to perform at the competition? Will they all forgive each other? Of course they will!
Besides the fun pop songs, amusing one-liners, picturesque scenery and glimpses of six-packs, the film has something to say to its audiences: don't make assumptions about people because you don't know what they are going through, or what lies beneath the image they project to the world.
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