Paljas

Probably one of the best films to come out of South Africa. The story documents the lives of an Afrikaans railway worker and his family in the remote countryside of the Karoo.

Refreshing to see that someone had the brains to put good money behind a good movie in a country that isn't known for its cinema endeavours. I felt proud when I saw this movie.

A simple but brilliant storyline captured by what must be a vastly talented director. Wonderful camerawork and good acting.

Katinka Heyns is one of South Africa's finest filmmakers, and her 1998 film "Paljas" is an enchanting, if drawn-out, fable of hope overcoming prejudice. Set in the heartland of the Karoo (the lunar semi-desert that sprawls across South Africa's interior) it chronicles the tale of the Afrikaans-speaking Macdonald family whose conservative beliefs are thrown into turmoil when a touring circus pays their isolated village a visit.