Family Comedy Strikdas Opens with a Bang around the World

Family Comedy ‘Strikdas – ‘n Familie gedoente’ has opened with a bang at the box office in South Africa and online worldwide with South Africans abroad being able to watch the movie at the same time that their families back home are doing so.

The quirky new comedy earned R1 219 664 on its opening weekend. By the close of business on the long weekend, more than 35,000 people had seen the film.

It held onto position number 5 on the Industry Top Ten behind Hollywood blockbusters ‘Fast & Furious 7’, ‘Cinderella’, ‘Home’, and ‘Insurgent’, and remained ahead of another local film, ‘Ballade vir ‘n Enkeling’, which took sixth place on the Top Ten.

“We are really thrilled that the public reaction to the film has been so positive,” says Stefan Enslin, producer of ‘Strikdas – ‘n Familie Gedoente’.

“We have also been monitoring the response to the film on several social media platforms and everyone who has seen it is raving about how much it makes you laugh. Especially the fact that you can enjoy a laugh with the entire family. It’s a delight for us as the filmmakers, especially because we wanted to make a family comedy that would appeal to everyone.”

The film opened 37% ahead of the hugely popular ‘Klein Karoo’ (2013) on its opening weekend, and 105% ahead of ‘Jakhalsdans’ (2010), effectively doing double the business of that film on the weekend. It’s also 2% ahead of ‘Knysna’ which opened in December 2014, showing that there is an ongoing demand for Afrikaans family entertainment.

Simultaneous Worldwide Release

‘Strikdas – ‘n familie gedoente’ is also the first Afrikaans feature film to be released worldwide simultaneously, in theatres across South Africa, and online to international audiences outside of Africa via the video-on-demand platform Scatzy.com.

“As the local distributor of the film, it’s been exciting to have the unique opportunity to release a film that South Africans across the world can watch at the same time as their families back home are doing so,” says Helen Kuun, CEO, Indigenous Film Distribution.

People that live in South Africa can also use Scatzy.com to “gift” the movie to friends and family overseas to view and enjoy

The film’s hero Vossie, played by Kaz McFadden (“Knysna”, 2014) falls in love with Willemien, played by Leandie du Randt (“Mooirivier”, 2015), the spoilt daughter of a wealthy wine farm owner. He finds himself having to prove his worth not only to her, but also to her snobbish family. At the same time, he has to fight off Willemien’s two-timing ex, who is not prepared to let her go without a fight.

The soundtrack for the film, produced by Gresham Records, is available from at retail outlets nationwide. It features the title track ‘Met Jou Hart’, written and performed by Johan C Venter, who gained renown as a member of the popular a cappella group Flip a Coin. The music video is on YouTube and the ‘Praat Afrikaans’ Facebook page. A second single titled Klapsoen was recorded by Bouwer Bosch (Dans Dans Lisa and Straatligkinders) and Almarie du Preez.

Produced by Faith in Motion Productions and Philo Pieterse’s Philo Films, the production company behind runaway success ‘Platteland’, ‘Strikdas – ‘n Familie Gedoente’ also stars Albert Maritz, Susanne Beyers, Gys de Villiers, Elsabé Daneel, Sandra Kotzé and Sean-Marco Vorster.

Watch the Official Trailer here: ‘Strikdas – ‘n Familie Gedoente’

Supplied by Scatzy.com