Elelwani is a young university-educated woman who has been brought up in an environment steeped in tradition. Her parents have promised her hand in marriage to the Venda Prince and, as a dutiful daughter, she wants to obey their wishes and protect their honour. But in order to fulfil her promise, Elelwani must abandon her dreams of travel, further education and - most importantly - her commitment to her one true love.
Elelwani complies with her parents' wishes, but at the Royal Palace she discovers that the Prince is controlled by his powerful and self-willed half-sister who distrusts Elelwani's university education. When she discovers a plot to have her killed, Elelwani must find a way to reveal the dark secrets she has uncovered and prove her innocence.

This thought-provoking film about a woman's courageous spirit reflects the importance of re-evaluating traditional values and cultural practices in the light of social and political change. ELELWANI comes from internationally acclaimed filmmaker Ntshavheni wa Luruli, whose film THE WOODEN CAMERA was awarded the Crystal Bear for Best Youth Feature at the Berlinale in 2004.

South Africa 2012, Venda with English subtitles, HDCAM, DVD, 1h38 min

Director: Ntshavheni wa Luruli
Screenplay: Ntshavheni wa Luruli
Cinematographer: Lance Gewer
Cast: Florence Masebe, Ashifashabba Muleya, Vusi Kunene, Samsom Ramabulana, Salome Mutshinya, Sammy Moeti

Print Source: Shadowy Meadows Productions

written and directed by ntshaveni wa luruli
produced by florian schattauer
edited by aryan kaganof
director of photography lance gewer

BASED ON THE NOVEL BY TITUS MAUMELA

starring
FLORENCE MASEBE
ASHIFASHABBA MULEYA
MUTODI NESHEHE
SAMMY MOETI
SAMSON RAMABULANA
SALOME MUCHINYE
ELSIE RASALANAVHO

AND VUSI KUNENE AS PRINCE THOVELE

PRODUCTION DESIGN - ROBERT VAN DER COOLWYK
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS - KETSO GORDHAN & FLORENCE MASEBE
CO-PRODUCER - JYOTI MISTRY

PRODUCED BY FLORIAN SCHATTAUER
WRITTEN AND DIRCTED BY NTSHAVHENI WA LURULI