Feature Film: My f*k, Marelize!
When a cell phone video surfaced online in 2019 of a girl cycling straight into a rugby post – accompanied by her mom’s unforgettable exclamation, “My f*k, Marelize!” – it instantly became an internet sensation. But behind this viral clip, which had the country in stitches, is a family with a deeply human story. Director Zandré Coetzer brings this Namibian family’s tale to the big screen in My f*k, Marelize!, a touching and humorous film inspired by the Horn family.
Zandré shares more:
Je-ani Swiegelaar plays the role of the mom, Heidi, and Zandélle Meyer portrays the beloved Marelize. How did you approach the casting for this film?
Casting was absolutely central. When portraying real people, you’re looking for more than just talent or resemblance. I knew I had a makeup and wardrobe team who could work magic. What mattered was presence and authenticity. We didn’t choose actors based on their looks; we focused on the chemistry between them on camera.
I met Je-ani years ago during auditions for another project and have been impressed with her ever since. This time, the project and its timing were just right, and luckily, doing a feature film was also on her wish list. Je-ani, alongside Zandélle, Neels Clasen, and Nichola Viviers, brought the Horns’ family dynamic to life with humour, authenticity, and soul. It was truly an incredible cast.
How do you balance entertainment and respect when portraying real people in a feature film?
It’s a delicate balance. You’re working with real people, and if you don’t approach it with respect, you risk letting them down. We approached the story like someone recounting a wild evening … perhaps a bit dramatic or jumbled, but with truth at the core.
We deliberately included entertaining elements, but always with the Horns’ essence in mind. The film had to feel like a home video – honest and intimate. We even filmed at the real cancer centre where Heidi received treatment. We wanted to capture their world as faithfully as possible. Most things in the script happened, just not necessarily in that exact week or year.
What drew you to this story, and why do you think it works as a feature film?
Brett Michael Innes, the screenwriter, and I had wanted to collaborate for a while, like two people always promising to have that braai together! Eventually, we decided it was now or never. Brett had been thinking about the video long after it went viral, and he started chatting with Marelize. We decided to travel to Namibia to meet the Horns.
Tiaan, Marelize’s dad, has a great bar at home, and that’s where we shared many stories, and we realised there was so much more to this family than just a funny video.
They reminded me of holidays at my grandmother’s house: food, card games, and unspoken love. Brett later said I should direct because I grasped their essence. We didn’t want to depict just another dysfunctional family; we wanted to show something warm, relatable, and loving. The Horns are a good, healthy family.
Did you see those emotional layers within the film from the beginning, or did they emerge during the process?
We started with a framework, but everything deepened once we met them. The Horns trusted us with their story, something for which I’m deeply grateful. They weren’t involved in the filming process, but they trusted our vision completely. They haven’t even seen the final film yet – that’s how strong their trust is.
Mutual respect and open communication were essential. Our shared goal was to make a film that inspires people and reminds them of a simpler time before everything became so fast-paced and tech-driven.
Why do you think Heidi and Marelize became such a sensation? What emotions do you think were triggered in people?
It was the perfect “epic fail” moment – something we all search for on social media. But what made it unforgettable was Heidi’s raw, honest reaction. Something about her exclamation was so human and universal that people immediately connected with it.
I think it made people feel like they weren’t alone in their mistakes and blunders. That it’s okay to be yourself and wear a bikini, even if you don’t feel perfect. The video sparked something about humanity and self-acceptance. And that is the core of the film.
With family, you can be your true self. They roll their eyes at you, but they also support you unconditionally. That’s the kind of warmth we hoped My f*k, Marelize! would evoke in viewers.
- There is a second screening of My f*k Marelize! on Saturday, 23 August at 11:30 at the Silwerskermfees. Tickets available from Quicket.