IF you REALLY want insight into South Africa, see it thru the eyes of Hanli Prinsloo; @hanliprinsloo
For weeks I've been sitting on this little gold nugget, waiting for just the right time to bring it out for you all to finally see and admire.
Today, with the first Semifinal of the 2010 World Cup taking place in Cape Town with The Netherlands facing Uruguay -with me rooting for The Orange- I decided the time was right to share this fabulous documentary called Vit som blod (White as blood) by Hanli Prinsloo that first aired on Swedish Television (SVT) in Sweden a month ago, before the World Cup started or any of the fascinating kungliga bröllopet stuff with Crown Princess Victoria.I've probably watched it now three or four times in the interim, and I have to tell you that there are some things in it that still get to me every time.
Just for the record, though they are both from southern Africa, South Africa-born Hanli Prinsloo is NOT the sister of fashion supermodel and Victoria's Secret angel Behati Prinsloo, who is from Namibia. I've had something interesting on Behati stored-up in Draft waiting for just the right time, which I guess I'll share right now. @BeePrinsloo
VS PINK - DRIVING LESSON FOR BEHATI from Rockville Pictures on Vimeo.
VS PINK - DRIVING LESSON FOR BEHATI
My first thought? This explains a lot of the traffic problems in South Beach... watching -and avoiding!- Behati Prinsloo
Some of you more astute readers of the blog may have first seen her when she was on CBS-TV promoting the December 2008 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at The Fontainbleau.
So back to the serious stuff... Once the film begins, you'll see that it's of a caliber and ambition far more serious than what the U.S. networks have shown over here in relation to the run-up to the 2010 World Cup.
Prinsloo's film is a great example of some very savvy and personal film-making, and while one can't hope for miracles, ESPN sure hasn't gone out of their way to do any of the sort of cultural, political or historical aspects of the South Africa story the way that Jim McKay would've done for ABC Sports. But then he was the gold standard
The film is just over 58 minutes long, in English with Swedish sub-titles -avec un peu de Afrikaans- but you'll understand 99% of it.
Be sure to hit the full screen button in the bottom right to better view it. This film will be available at the SVT Play website until next Tuesday, July 13th.
Here's the premise of the film: After seven years of living in Sweden, Hanli Prinsloo is returning to South Africa. But before she moves home, she must first come to terms with her family's heritage. Hanli's grandfather was a political leader of the apartheid regime. It's finally time to confront the family over the issue that has caused so much conflict over the years. Hanli embarks on her journey from Sweden filled with deeply-felt emotions and personal conflicts to get an answer to the question: Kan jag bo här? Can I stay here?
http://svtplay.se/v/2031363/dokumentarfilm/vit_som_blod
For more on the amazing Hanli Prinsloo, go to her new website at
http://hanliprinsloo.com/
Her old blog was at: http://hanlifreediver.blogspot.com
http://www.iamwater.co.za/
Hanli Prinsloo, @hanliprinsloo https://twitter.com/hanliprinsloo
https://www.youtube.com/user/hanlifreediver
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOCXjeroMcE
