Off on my travels again

[Trevor]

Going here on 19th July 2017:

http://www.vrystaatkunstefees.co.za/default.aspx

They are honoring my mentor Jans Rautenbach and are screening his two most controversial films, the political thriller Die Kandidaat [The Candidate] and the truly frightening Jannie Totsiens [Johnny Farewell].

I've been asked to speak at the honoring and it will be a chance to say thanks to my mentor. 

[Trevor]

I forgot to add that VRYSTAAT KUNSTEFEES is "Free State Arts Festival" 

[javakoala]

That's awesome, Brother Trevor. A good mentor can be as good or better than an understanding parent.

Have either of the films mentioned been released in the US? Doesn't look like it according to IMDb.

And, huzzah! I found Trevor's review page on IMDb. He's as kind and giving in his reviews as he is in our madhouse forum.

Check him out:  http://www.imdb.com/user/ur20505620/comments?ref_=tt_urv

[Newt]

Enjoy!

[Trevor]

That's awesome, Brother Trevor. A good mentor can be as good or better than an understanding parent.

Have either of the films mentioned been released in the US? Doesn't look like it according to IMDb.

And, huzzah! I found Trevor's review page on IMDb. He's as kind and giving in his reviews as he is in our madhouse forum.

Check him out:  http://www.imdb.com/user/ur20505620/comments?ref_=tt_urv

Wow, thanks, Brother Java: I'd forgotten about those reviews written in 2009.  

Neither of those two films have ever had an international release: at festivals, yes but not otherwise.

Die Kandidaat was SA's first political thriller, something along the lines of All The President's Men meets Twelve Angry Men : a political drama released in 1968: wow. How it never got banned, I have no idea. 

Jannie Totsiens was SA's first horror film with a dash of black comedy in it but it is still the most frightening film I have ever seen. 

[Trevor]

This is the man we are honoring:

http://www.screenafrica.com/page/news/film/1660902-Passing-of-SA-film-pioneer-Jans-Rautenbach#.WVy8xDgcSic

The man to Oom Jans' left is Koos Roets ACS, ace cameraman. 

[javakoala]

So many films, and so little time. Now you have my interest piqued about South African cinema.

Jannie Totsiens (Johnny Farewell) seems vaguely similar to Man Facing Southeast, or vice versa. Not that they are exactly the same, but have similar set ups. I'd love to see the two of them back-to-back.

[Trevor]

Got my confirmation for my hotel and car: now all I have to do is to get myself together to travel almost three hundred miles to get there on Wednesday next week. 

[Trevor]

I'm back: got home early Saturday morning.

All went well: I was very glad to see that so many people who felt my mentor's positivity in their lives were there  and that no one appeared to be bored by my speech which lasted all of 12 minutes. 

I also proved something to myself: if I am indeed a recluse, I cannot be one totally as I traveled over a thousand kilometres to get there and recluses cannot do that.

[javakoala]

Glad to have you back, safe and sound.

You have every right to feel proud of yourself. You pushed down your urge to stay home and ended up making great memories.   

[Trevor]

Glad to have you back, safe and sound.

You have every right to feel proud of yourself. You pushed down your urge to stay home and ended up making great memories.   

Aww... thanks. 

I bumped into several of my one time Facebook friends there and one asked me where I'd gone. I just told him that FB was no longer the place for me and he said that he was glad I left as he didn't have to read anymore underpants updates or see turtles "eating" pizza 

[bob]

Did you get underwear there to commemorate the trip. 

[Trevor]

Did you get underwear there to commemorate the trip. 

Got several pairs before I left: they were all used up eventually