If you dance “dat die biesies bewe” (like nobody’s watching), it’s double the fun
In her Silwerskerm debut Dans dat die biesies bewe, writer and director Luzanne Potgieter created the type of film that has you smiling from the opening scene. Before you know it, you’re grinning broadly and with each passing frame, the protagonist Mieke becomes more endearing.
In this delightful short film, Mieke hits the dance floor – but in her own special way. Though she doesn’t have the build or training of a professional dancer, she dreams of becoming one. And then opportunity presents itself. Her music hero and the coolest guy in Daspoort, Wimpie Steyn, auditions to replace his injured lead dancer!
Well-known soap star Izak Davel, who studied dance at Tshwane University of Technology, plays the charismatic Wimpie. But the true stars of Dans dat die biesies bewe are Mieke and her older brother.
“Dans dat die biesies bewe is a family friendly comedy with a straightforward message: Don’t let anyone stand in the way of achieving your dreams; and remember, blood is thicker than water,” says producer Lara Lourens.
Lara and Luzanne battled to find the perfect Mieke until Cara Meiring, currently a third-year student at PALI Incubation, busted her moves at an audition dressed in full character costume. Cara also acted in the Showmax series Horisonne, and Mieke’s brother is played by the actor and musician Rikus Strauss.
Part of Dans dat die biesies bewe’s appeal lies in the nostalgia it invokes for the early 2000’s. “We had loads of fun creating Mieke’s colourful world in a spanner valley setting true to this era,” says Luzanne.
Here are a few fun facts about the production. Note the repetition of the words “two” and “also”.
- There are two Caras in the cast. Besides Cara Meiring (Mieke), Cara Kruger plays Mieke’s friend, Lienkie. There were many “which Cara?” moments during the production.
- Cara Kruger’s (Lienkie) twin sister, Anri, is also an actor who assisted in the wardrobe department of the film.
- Luzanne’s boyfriend, Arné Boshoff, also has a film at this year’s Silwerskerm Festival. He is the writer and director of Thrift tot die dood.
- On top of directing, Luzanne also did the choreography for Dans dat die biesies bewe. Before she entered the world of film, Luzanne was a professional dancer with Springbok colours. She is the 2018 IDO world champion.
- Instead of using the rather problematic leotard they had procured for Mieke, wardrobe assistants Tanika du Randt and Anri Kruger decided to fashion a new one the evening before filming started.
- Naret Loots is actually a very talented actor, but it turns out she’s an equally talented set designer. Naret and her assistant, Darius Pretorius, procured all the eccentric props.
- Like Luzanne, producer Lara Lourens also made her debut at the Silwerskerm Festival (with the 2016 short film Koue voete). In the past year, she has produced six kykNET Story Films, of which she scripted two.
- Lara is also an actress who was in the kykNET series Huis Lelieveld.
Dans dat die biesies bewe screens at the festival on Friday 25 August at 09:00 and will be available on kykNET and Showmax thereafter.