Andrew Mudge’s latest offering combines classic realism with colourful characters, breathtaking vistas and a light dusting of the supernatural
Lesotho-born Atang Mokoenya (Zenzo Ngqobe, addictively watchable) has been scraping by on the mean streets of Johannesburg but when his father dies and he decides to honour the old man’s wishes to be buried back home, Atang must come to terms with his past. In many ways, writer-director Andrew Mudge’s affecting mini epic is reminiscent of many classic realist 19th-century novels, in a good way, complete with moral reformations, social issues of the day addressed (Atang’s love interest has a sister dying from Aids), colourful supporting characters and a light dusting of the supernatural. At the same time, it’s also pleasingly cinematic with lots of breathtaking vistas, atmospheric music and a steady dramatic pulse, all buttressed by some rather fine acting from the ensemble. Some may...
Lesotho-born Atang Mokoenya (Zenzo Ngqobe, addictively watchable) has been scraping by on the mean streets of Johannesburg but when his father dies and he decides to honour the old man’s wishes to be buried back home, Atang must come to terms with his past. In many ways, writer-director Andrew Mudge’s affecting mini epic is reminiscent of many classic realist 19th-century novels, in a good way, complete with moral reformations, social issues of the day addressed (Atang’s love interest has a sister dying from Aids), colourful supporting characters and a light dusting of the supernatural. At the same time, it’s also pleasingly cinematic with lots of breathtaking vistas, atmospheric music and a steady dramatic pulse, all buttressed by some rather fine acting from the ensemble. Some may...
- 8/20/2015
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
★★★☆☆ Set largely in the mountainous Kingdom of Lesotho, The Forgotten Kingdom (2013) isn't lacking for a spectacular backdrop to tell its gentle 'hero's journey' tale. The vistas that dominate the film are truly spectacular and director Andrew Mudge peppers them through even the film's city scenes like pillow shots, meaning that even in the built-up townships of Johannesburg, the country is never far from our minds. The landscape is as much a character as the young man and boy that cross through it and the specificness of the film's setting and situation help it rise above its fairly rote story to something that remains consistently engaging.
- 8/19/2015
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
1 - A South African film directed by Andrew Mudge, titled "The Forgotten Kingdom" - winner of several international film festival awards - which centers on a young man named Atang, who leaves Johannesburg for his native land of Lesotho to bury his estranged father. Atang falls in love with childhood friend Dineo, who cares for her HIV-positive sister. Through falling for Dineo, Atang confronts his past in the remote village in which he grew up. Conflict arises when Dineo's father wants to relocate their family, to escape from the public stigma of Dineo's sister's HIV infection. Cast includes: Moshoeshoe Chabeli, Lillian Dube, and Jerry Mofokeng. Trailer...
- 2/3/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Exclusive: Andrew Mudge’s drama is set for June 10 North American theatrical release.
Kino Lorber has picked up North American rights to Andrew Mudge’s South African drama The Forgotten Kingdom, which The Little Film Company is selling internationally.
The distributor plans a June 10 theatrical release through its Alive Mind Cinema platform and has also taken TV and DVD rights in North America, while GaiamTV has picked up digital rights.
ZenHQ Films and Strongman’s films tells the story of a man who leaves the slums of Johannesburg to return to his ancestral land of Lesotho to bury his estranged father, where he falls in love with his childhood friend.
Indigenous Films handles the nationwide release in South Africa.
Kino Lorber has picked up North American rights to Andrew Mudge’s South African drama The Forgotten Kingdom, which The Little Film Company is selling internationally.
The distributor plans a June 10 theatrical release through its Alive Mind Cinema platform and has also taken TV and DVD rights in North America, while GaiamTV has picked up digital rights.
ZenHQ Films and Strongman’s films tells the story of a man who leaves the slums of Johannesburg to return to his ancestral land of Lesotho to bury his estranged father, where he falls in love with his childhood friend.
Indigenous Films handles the nationwide release in South Africa.
- 5/18/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Screening at the 2nd Toronto Black Film Festival (Tbff), which kicked off yesterday, February 11, running through the 16th, is Andrew Mudge's South African drama The Forgotten Kingdom.The impeccably photographed Kingdom begins with its protagonist Atang (played by Tsotsi's Zenzo Ngkobe), who's walking the streets in Johannesburg, a vibrant scene which seems to have been choreographed to the local hip-hop beats and sounds. In an early sequence in which a convenience store owner tells Atang he looks nothing like his father, except for the "anger in his eyes," we sense that a resentful Atang has been fending for himself in the South African town for some...
- 2/12/2014
- by Vanessa Martinez
- ShadowAndAct
The 2nd Toronto Black Film Festival, presented by Global Toronto, kicks off today, February 11, running through the 16th, featuring an official lineup that include the very best in black cinema from around the world. The 2014 selection presents the latest works from 34 filmmakers and features premieres from 22 countries including Canada, USA, UK, Sweden, Nigeria, South Africa, Haiti, Germany, Lesotho, Cameroun, France, Dominican Republic, Ghana and Brazil. The festival opens tonight with a screening of the South African Drama The Forgotten Kingdom, written and directed by Andrew Mudge, which centers on Atang, who leaves Johannesburg...
- 2/11/2014
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Andrew Mudge's South African drama The Forgotten Kingdom is screening as part of the Africa in Motion Film Festival (AiM), which kicked off last week.The impeccably photographed Kingdom begins with its protagonist Atang (played by Tsotsi's Zenzo Ngkobe), who's walking the streets in Johannesburg, a vibrant scene which seems to have been choreographed to the local hip-hop beats and sounds. In an early sequence in which a convenience store owner tells Atang he looks nothing like his father, except for the "anger in his eyes," we sense that a resentful Atang has been fending for himself in the South African town for some time without parental or familial...
- 10/28/2013
- by Vanessa Martinez
- ShadowAndAct
The Festival closed with a screening of How I Live Now attended by director Kevin MacDonald.
Andrew Mudge’s African set drama The Forgotten Kingdom took the Golden Punt Best Fiction Audience Award at the Cambridge Film Festival, which closed last night (September 29).
Clemente Bicocchi’s Black Africa, Whilte Marble picked up the Audience Award for Best Documentary, whilst Erik Schmitt & Stephan Müller’s Rhino Full Throttle was named Best Short Film by audiences.
The 33rd Cambridge Film Festival came to a close last night with a special preview screening of Kevin MacDonald’s How I Live Now, attended by the Oscar-winning director.
All 55 of the films receiving their UK premiere at the festival were eligible for the awards, which were voted for by the festival audiences.
The Young Critics Award winner was named as Abi Loosemore. The award was chosen from a panel of 18 critics aged 16-19, who each submitted a minimum of 3 reviews of 250 words...
Andrew Mudge’s African set drama The Forgotten Kingdom took the Golden Punt Best Fiction Audience Award at the Cambridge Film Festival, which closed last night (September 29).
Clemente Bicocchi’s Black Africa, Whilte Marble picked up the Audience Award for Best Documentary, whilst Erik Schmitt & Stephan Müller’s Rhino Full Throttle was named Best Short Film by audiences.
The 33rd Cambridge Film Festival came to a close last night with a special preview screening of Kevin MacDonald’s How I Live Now, attended by the Oscar-winning director.
All 55 of the films receiving their UK premiere at the festival were eligible for the awards, which were voted for by the festival audiences.
The Young Critics Award winner was named as Abi Loosemore. The award was chosen from a panel of 18 critics aged 16-19, who each submitted a minimum of 3 reviews of 250 words...
- 9/30/2013
- ScreenDaily
Kevin Macdonald’s How I Live Now will close the festival, which has assembled it largest programme to date.
The 33rd Cambridge Film Festival (Sept 19-29) has unveiled its 2013 line-up, comprising 150 titles from 40 countries.
As previously announced, Professor Stephen Hawking will attend the opening night gala of documentary Hawking, which will be broadcast live to more than 60 screens across the UK.
The festival will close with Kevin Macdonald’s How I Live Now, an Orwellian vision of a post-apocalyptic future starring Saoirse Ronan and George MacKay.
Alongside Hawking, other special guests to the festival will include directors Lucy Walker (The Crash Reel), Roland Klick (Deadlock), Mark Levinson (Particle Fever), Julien Temple (Oil City Confidential), Ramon Zürcher (The Strange Little Cat), Małgośka Szumowska (In The Name Of), Marzin Malaszczak (Sieniawka), Matt Hulse (Dummy Jim) and Andrew Mudge (The Forgotten Kingdom), Bob Stanley, John Pearse and actress Stephanie Stremler (Dust On Our Heart).
Strands include Young Americans, aimed at showcasing...
The 33rd Cambridge Film Festival (Sept 19-29) has unveiled its 2013 line-up, comprising 150 titles from 40 countries.
As previously announced, Professor Stephen Hawking will attend the opening night gala of documentary Hawking, which will be broadcast live to more than 60 screens across the UK.
The festival will close with Kevin Macdonald’s How I Live Now, an Orwellian vision of a post-apocalyptic future starring Saoirse Ronan and George MacKay.
Alongside Hawking, other special guests to the festival will include directors Lucy Walker (The Crash Reel), Roland Klick (Deadlock), Mark Levinson (Particle Fever), Julien Temple (Oil City Confidential), Ramon Zürcher (The Strange Little Cat), Małgośka Szumowska (In The Name Of), Marzin Malaszczak (Sieniawka), Matt Hulse (Dummy Jim) and Andrew Mudge (The Forgotten Kingdom), Bob Stanley, John Pearse and actress Stephanie Stremler (Dust On Our Heart).
Strands include Young Americans, aimed at showcasing...
- 8/21/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Premiering at the Seattle International Film Festival is Andrew Mudge's South African drama The Forgotten Kingdom.The impeccably photographed Kingdom begins with its protagonist Atang (played by Tsotsi's Zenzo Ngkobe), who's walking the streets in Johannesburg, a vibrant scene which seems to have been choreographed to the local hip-hop beats and sounds. In an early sequence in which a convenience store owner tells Atang he looks nothing like his father, except for the "anger in his eyes," we sense that a resentful Atang has been fending for himself in the South African town for some time without parental or familial guidance. After a long-due visit to his estranged...
- 6/12/2013
- by Vanessa Martinez
- ShadowAndAct
Emir Baigazin’s Harmony Lessons won the 39th Seattle International Film Festival’s Best New Director grand jury prize on Sunday [9] as top brass handed out jury and audience awards.Scroll down for full list of winners
The Siff 2013 Best Documentary grand jury prize went to Penny Lane’s Our Nixon and Lucy Walker earned a special jury prize for The Crash Reel, while Kyle Patrick Alvarez took the Best New American Cinema grand jury prize for C.O.G.
In the audience awards, Henk Pretorius’ Fanie Fourie’s Lobola won the Best Film Golden Space Needle Award and Morgan Neville’s Twenty Feet From Stardom took the corresponding documentary prize.
The Best Director Golden Space Needle Award went to Nabil Ayouch for Horses Of God, while best actor was awarded to James Cromwell for Still Mine and best actress to Samantha Morton for Decoding Annie Parker.
The Best Short Film Golden Space Needle Award was presented to [link...
The Siff 2013 Best Documentary grand jury prize went to Penny Lane’s Our Nixon and Lucy Walker earned a special jury prize for The Crash Reel, while Kyle Patrick Alvarez took the Best New American Cinema grand jury prize for C.O.G.
In the audience awards, Henk Pretorius’ Fanie Fourie’s Lobola won the Best Film Golden Space Needle Award and Morgan Neville’s Twenty Feet From Stardom took the corresponding documentary prize.
The Best Director Golden Space Needle Award went to Nabil Ayouch for Horses Of God, while best actor was awarded to James Cromwell for Still Mine and best actress to Samantha Morton for Decoding Annie Parker.
The Best Short Film Golden Space Needle Award was presented to [link...
- 6/9/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Premiering today at the Seattle International Film Festival is Andrew Mudge's South African drama The Forgotten Kingdom.The impeccably photographed Kingdom begins with its protagonist Atang (played by Tsotsi's Zenzo Ngkobe), who's walking the streets in Johannesburg, a vibrant scene which seems to have been choreographed to the local hip-hop beats and sounds. In an early sequence in which a convenience store owner tells Atang he looks nothing like his father, except for the "anger in his eyes," we sense that a resentful Atang has been fending for himself in the South African town for some time without parental or familial guidance. After a long-due visit to his estranged...
- 5/30/2013
- by Vanessa Martinez
- ShadowAndAct
Here's a South African film we profiled around two weeks ago, when it won the Audience Narrative award at the Ashland Independent Film Festival. Helmed by Andrew Mudge, the drama The Forgotten Kingdom has since then done it again, winning Audience awards at the Sarasota Film Festival and the Florida Film Festival. Next up, Kingdom will premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival (New American Cinema competition). It can also be expected to screen at the Durban International, Berkshire, Port Townsend and Woods Hole film festivals. To recap, the subtitled drama centers on Atang, who leaves Johannesburg for his native land of Lesotho to bury his estranged father. Atang falls in...
- 5/1/2013
- by Vanessa Martinez
- ShadowAndAct
Here's an intriguing-looking film we have yet to profile.... The 96-minute South African Drama The Forgotten Kingdom, written and directed by Andrew Mudge, was the winner of the Audience Award for Best Feature at the 2013 Ashland Independent Film Festival over the past weekend. The subtitled drama centers on Atang, who leaves Johannesburg for his native land of Lesotho to bury his estranged father. Atang falls in love with childhood friend Dineo, who cares for her HIV-positive sister. Through falling for Dineo, Atang confronts his past in this remote village he grew up in. Conflict arises when Dineo's father wants to relocate their family to escape from the public stigma of Dineo's...
- 4/10/2013
- by Vanessa Martinez
- ShadowAndAct
Entry 12: By the Skin of Our Teeth August 22, 2011 - Maseru, Lesotho The shoot is over, and first-time filmmaker Andrew Mudge is winding down his time in Africa. Eight months later, after almost 50 days of shooting and just as many hours of footage, we finally wrapped production on this little film. The cast and crew have dispersed to all parts north: America, Johannesburg, the sleepy villages around Lesotho. I remain in Maseru, closing out the accounts we have in Lesotho and preparing for a dozen or so more pickup shots and voice-overs to be recorded. We packed up our spacious house/production office, and I'm now staying in a cozy room at a Us Embassy house. It's a strange feeling to still be here after the troops have gone their ways. Mostly, it's an incredible relief to finally be finished, and these last pickup shots should be a bite of...
- 8/4/2011
- TribecaFilm.com
Entry 6: Finding Our Tau February 9, 2011 - Maseru, Lesotho Casting decisions have cost Andrew Mudge some sleepless nights, but he may have found the Tau he's been looking for. We've seen incredible talent out of Johannesburg. All of last week, cramped but cozy in a sunlit audition room at Bonnie Lee Bouman's casting agency, we the Tfk team auditioned upwards of 40 young men and women for the lead roles of Atang and Dineo. It's inspiring to see these two characters come to life in the hands of such passionate and capable actors. I've also had a couple of almost sleepless nights trying to make the decisions about whom to cast for the leads. In the early morning hours, when even our neighborhood's pack of canines have sacked out somewhere, I open my laptop and pull up Quicktimes of improvised scenes of the three female finalists auditioning for the role of Dineo.
- 2/9/2011
- TribecaFilm.com
Entry 1: The Beginning December 22, 2010 - Clarens, South Africa Andrew Mudge arrives in South Africa. I arrived in South Africa just over a week ago, greeted at the Johannesburg airport by Cecil Matlou, a thirty year-old African man wearing a worn-out African National Congress T-shirt with a faded photo of Stephen Biko* on it. Right away I liked him. Cecil, along with his partner Pieter, is to be co-producer on The Forgotten Kingdom (Tfk). As we darted from one freeway to the next, wending our way into Joburg, I learned that Cecil aspires to be the president of South Africa someday. On first impression, I could see this happening. Cecil appears wide awake, fiercely intuitive, sharp as a tack, and a diligent worker. He's got a great attitude. The photo on his driver's license shows him beaming a ten-megawatt smile, a joyful contortion of muscle I myself would be loath...
- 12/22/2010
- TribecaFilm.com
First-time filmmaker Andrew Mudge sets off to Lesotho to shoot the country's first feature film. And he's blogging all the way! The Basotho pony, which is technically a small horse, was bred for bravery, agility, and stamina. It was this animal that helped King Moshoeshoe and his Basotho warriors defend their mountain kingdom from the English and Dutch during the Boer wars. Without it, the country of Lesotho would not exist. My first experience riding these horses was in 2003, when I went to visit my brother, who was serving in Lesotho as a Peace Corps volunteer. We hired a guide to lead us on horseback to the bottom of a deep and serpentine river canyon. As we began to descend into the rocky abyss, it occurred to me to spare this animal's life (and mine) by scrambling down the trail on my own feet and hands, opposable thumbs and all.
- 12/22/2010
- TribecaFilm.com
NEW YORK -- Writer-director Vanessa Parise's Kiss the Bride got a big wet smack from the Golden Starfish when the Hamptons International Film Festival named it best feature at an awards ceremony in East Hampton during the weekend. Filmmaker and festival board member Bob Balaban emceed the event. Bride -- for which won Parise more than $180,000 in goods and services to be used toward her next feature -- centers on four sisters coming together to celebrate a wedding who must reconcile their pasts before their family falls apart. Alyssa Milano, Sean Patrick Flanery, Talia Shire and Burt Young star. In the documentary category, Angela Christlieb and Stephen Kijak's Cinemania took top honors, while Andrew Mudge's The Perfect Gooseys won the Golden Starfish for best short.
- 10/22/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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