The film tells the story of a retired judge who decides to take time off to write his memoirs at an isolated cabin. When he takes in a hiker lost in the wilderness, he later discovers the hiker is not really lost and this is no chance meeting.

This impressive first fi lm from young South African director Mukunda Michael Dewil tells the story of a retired judge (Joe Mafela) who is sent by his editor to an isolated cabin in the South African wilderness to write his memoirs. When a lost hiker (Jeremy Crutchley) stays over for the night, he is supposed to leave the next morning but his stay might just become extended. Dewil set the fi lm in a single location for budget reasons, relying on a high impact script and strong actors to give weight to Retribution. That decision may have allowed him to get his movie made, but it also helped to produce a work of great intensity, with the palpable claustrophobia of the cabin becoming a powerful presence in the fi lm. Powered by strong writing and two great performances, Retribution is a remarkable addition to South African fi lm. Dewil knows exactly how to create unbearable tension without requiring the presence of mystery to fuel it, and Retribution marks him as one of the country's most promising directorial talents.

South Africa 2010, English, 35 mm, 80 min

Directed by Michael Mukunda Dewill and starring SA's favourite and award winning Joe Mafela,

Director: Mukunda Michael Dewil
Screenplay: Mukunda Michael Dewil
Cinematographer: Miles Goodall
Cast: Jeremy Crutchley, Joe Mafela, Shoki Mokgapa, Morne Visser

Print Source: Moonlighting Films
Funded by the NFVF
Distributed by the NFVF


2011 - 32nd DIFF, DURBAN, South Africa
* World Premiere on the 22nd of July at 18:00 at the Nu Metro Cinecentre Suncoast.