Good Madam | |
---|---|
Xhosa | Mlungu Wam |
Directed by | Jenna Cato Bass |
Written by | Jenna Cato Bass Babalwa Baartman |
Produced by | Jenna Cato Bass Babalwa Baartman Kristina Ceyton Samantha Jennings |
Starring | Chumisa Cosa Nosipho Mtebe |
Cinematography | Jenna Cato Bass |
Edited by | Jacques de Villiers |
Music by | Simon Ratcliffe |
Production companies | Causeway Films Salmira Productions Sanusi Chronicles |
Distributed by | Visit Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 92 minutes |
Country | South Africa |
Languages | English Xhosa |
Good Madam (Xhosa : Mlungu Wam) is a South African horror film, directed by Jenna Cato Bass and released in 2021. [1] A commentary on the contemporary state of race relations in South Africa in the years following the end of apartheid, the film stars Chumisa Cosa as Tsidi, a single mother who moves back in with her mother Mavis (Nosipho Mtebe) while her mother is working as a live-in caregiver to an elderly white woman. [2]
The film premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, [3] where it received an honorable mention for the Platform Prize. [4]
Still mourning the loss of her beloved grandmother, single mother Tsidi (Chumisa Cosa) is forced to leave her home in Gugulethu after an irreconcilable feud with her relatives, who have plans for the family house. With nowhere else to stay and her 9-year-old-daughter Winnie (Kamvalethu Jonas Raziya) to care for, Tsidi has no choice but to contact her estranged mother Mavis (Nosipho Mtebe), who has worked as a live-in domestic for the same white ‘Madam’ (Jennifer Boraine) for the past 30 years.
Tsidi blames Mavis for never being around for her or her brother, as she was always obsessively devoted to Madam’s white family. Even now, with Madam bed-ridden and her sons far abroad, Mavis continues to doggedly slave away in the big, empty suburban house. Mavis reluctantly welcomes her daughter and granddaughter; the house brings back uncomfortable childhood memories for Tsidi, who recalls feelings of deep alienation, whereas Winnie is overjoyed with their new space.
Mavis insists that Tsidi and Winnie stay in the cramped maid’s quarters, in spite of the house’s many rooms remaining unused. When Tsidi learns that Madam is not merely bed-ridden but helplessly catatonic, she resolves to make the house a home on her own terms, but soon meets a disturbing, supernatural resistance. She starts to suspect that Madam is not as helpless as she seems and is the cause of this paranormal terror against her. Mavis does not believe her, remaining loyal to Madam and reminding Tsidi of how grateful they should be for Madam’s generosity.
As Tsidi becomes more frightened for her and her daughter’s safety, they receive a surprise visit from Stuart (Sanda Shandu), Mavis’s only son who was adopted by Madam. Stuart descends on the house with his own ideas of what is best for the 'family'. With Tsidi and Mavis's already troubled bond on the brink of destruction, and her relationship with her own daughter deteriorating, Tsidi turns to her grandmother’s spirit to help her uncover the dark truth about Madam’s horrifying heritage. [5]
The Kuntilanak, also called Pontianak, or Yakshi is a mythological creature in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. It is similar to Langsuir in other Southeast Asia regions. The Kuntilanak usually takes the form of a pregnant woman who died during childbirth. Alternatively, it is often described as a vengeful female spirit. Another form of the Kuntilanak refers to the ghost or white lady of Southeast Asian folklore.
Ellen Foster is a 1987 novel by American novelist Kaye Gibbons. It was a selection of Oprah's Book Club in October 1997.
Tuck Everlasting is an American children's novel about immortality written by Natalie Babbitt and published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1975. It has sold over 5 million copies and has been called a classic of modern children's literature.
The Initiation of Sarah is a 2006 American supernatural horror television film that was directed by Stuart Gillard for ABC Family. It first aired as part of ABC Family's 13 Nights of Halloween on October 22, 2006, and is a loose remake of the 1978 film of the same name. The two films differ in several ways. The personalities of Sarah and Patty were switched, the two are now biological sisters instead of adopted siblings, and the movie features magic as a predominant element to the plot, whereas in the original the focus is more heavily on Sarah having telekinesis. The character of Mrs. Hunter was re-written to be younger and possess a PhD, and is seen as a more positive figure in the movie as opposed to the character portrayed by Shelley Winters. The film's ending is also changed, as Sarah ends up with her love interest and does not die at the film's conclusion.
Classmates is a 2006 Indian Malayalam-language coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama film directed by Lal Jose and written by James Albert. The film features an ensemble cast including Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kavya Madhavan in lead roles along with Narain, Jayasurya, Indrajith Sukumaran and Radhika in supporting roles. The story revolves around a college graduate class of 1991. In 2006, working in different corners of the world, the friends get together for a class reunion to revive the joy and laughter of their college days. On the night of the reunion, one of the students is almost murdered and goes into a coma.
The Geisha House is a 1998 film directed by Kinji Fukasaku.
Iisa Pa Lamang is a 2008 Philippine television drama melodrama series broadcast by ABS-CBN. Directed by Ruel S. Bayani and Manny Q. Palo, it stars Claudine Barretto, Angelica Panganiban, Diether Ocampo, Gabby Concepcion, Cherry Pie Picache, Susan Roces, Laurice Guillen, Joel Torre, Melissa Ricks and Matt Evans. It aired on the network's Primetime Bida line up and worldwide on TFC from July 14 to November 7, 2008, replacing Lobo and was replaced by Pinoy Fear Factor.
Jenna Welch Bush Hager is an American news personality, author, and journalist. She is the co-host of Today with Hoda & Jenna, the fourth hour of NBC's morning news program, Today. Hager and her fraternal twin sister, Barbara, are the daughters of the 43rd U.S. President, George W. Bush, and former First Lady Laura Bush. Hager is also a granddaughter of the 41st U.S. President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush, great-granddaughter of former U.S. Senator Prescott Bush, niece of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and first cousin of former Land Commissioner of Texas, George P. Bush.
Hotel Transylvania is a 2012 American animated monster comedy film produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. The first installment in the Hotel Transylvania franchise, it was directed by Genndy Tartakovsky from a screenplay by Peter Baynham and Robert Smigel, and a story by Todd Durham, Dan Hageman and Kevin Hageman, based on an original concept created by Durham. The film stars the voices of Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Spade and CeeLo Green.
Hotel Transylvania 2 is a 2015 American animated monster comedy film produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation in association with LStar Capital, animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky and written by Robert Smigel and Adam Sandler, it is the second installment in the Hotel Transylvania franchise, serving as the sequel to Hotel Transylvania (2012).
Dylan Frances Penn is an American model and actress. She is the daughter of Sean Penn and Robin Wright. Her early public roles included modeling campaigns for Gap Inc., a magazine cover for treats!, a music video appearance in Nick Jonas's "Chains" and an acting role in Elvis & Nixon.
Iretiola Olusola Doyle is a Nigerian actress, entertainer, TV presenter, writer and a public speaker.
Shan George is a Nigerian Nollywood actress. Prior to debuting in the movie Thorns of Rose, she had previously featured in a 1997 soap opera titled Winds of Destiny. She is best known for her role in the movies Outkast and Welcome to Nollywood.
Gwen is a 2018 British period folk horror drama film with elements of gothic, supernatural, and psychological horror, written by William McGregor. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2018, where the film's star Eleanor Worthington Cox received the Toronto International Film Festival Rising Star award. The film is produced by Hilary Bevan Jones.
Teresa Ha was a former Chinese television and film actress from Hong Kong. Ha is credited with over 260 films.
Alexa RoseKolker is an American actress. She starred as Chloe in the science fiction thriller film Freaks (2018), which earned her a Young Artist Award and a Saturn Award nomination. Prior to this, she had recurring roles as Mary Swagger on the television series Shooter (2016–2018) and Robin Hinton on the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2017–2018).
Books of Blood is a 2020 American anthology horror film directed by Brannon Braga and co-written by Braga and Adam Simon. It is based on Books of Blood by Clive Barker and is the second film adaptation after Book of Blood (2009). The film premiered at the 2020 Screamfest Horror Film Festival on October 6, 2020, and was released on Hulu the following day. This was the final production by Touchstone Television before being folded into 20th Television.
A Banquet is a 2021 British horror film directed by Ruth Paxton and written by Justin Bull. The film stars Sienna Guillory as widowed mother Holly, whose husband, the father of her daughters Betsey and Isabelle, died by suicide. One night, Betsey has what she believes to be a supernatural experience, that results in her refusing to eat.
Amityville Exorcism is a 2017 American horror film directed by Mark Polonia and written by Billy D'Amato. It was released direct-to-video, and is the eighteenth film to be inspired by Jay Anson's 1977 novel The Amityville Horror. The film stars Jeff Kirkendall as Father Benna, a Catholic priest who, with the help of a troubled father played by James Carolus, performs exorcism on the man's daughter after the girl is possessed by a demon that originates from 112 Ocean Avenue, a haunted house in Amityville, New York. It was followed by two sequels, Amityville Island in 2020 and Amityville in Space in 2022.