Films for Africa

MASTER HAROLD........ AND THE BOYS

WORLD PREMIERE AND OPENING NIGHT FILM

Athol Fugard's Master Harold…and the Boys is based on the playwright’s early life in South Africa. But is not a simple retelling of an incident from his past. Rather, Fugard has presented a personal experience that extends to universal humanity. If it were simply a polemic against the policy of apartheid, it would already be outdated now that sweeping change has transformed South Africa. Instead, Fugard wrote a play about human relationships that are put to the test by societal and personal forces.

Set in the shadow of apartheid South Africa in the 1950’s, Master Harold focuses on the relationship between a young white boy, his alcoholic father who has one leg and the two black men that work at his parents’ Tea Room in Port Elizabeth.  Through his humiliation about his father and day to day life with Sam (Ving Rhames) the young boy Hally (Freddie Highmore) learns lessons in life, respect and tolerance.  Some of Athol Fugard’s most guarded and shameful memories of his life in Port Elizabeth make this film touching, and a very memorable story. 

Director Lonny Price makes his feature film debut with Master Harold …and the Boys. The perfect choice to helm the picture, Price played Hally in the original Broadway production of the play opposite Danny Glover and Zakes Mokae under Fugard’s direction, Price also directed the 2003 revival starring Danny Glover. Price won a Primetime Emmy for his direction of the 2001 TV movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert. 

Since 2004, Spier Films has been involved in world sales, production, financing and distribution. In 2004 Spier Films produced the groundbreaking films U-Carmen eKayelitsha, Golden Bear winner at the 2005 Berlinale and Son of Man, official selection at Sundance Film Festival 2006. Spier films now offers financing possibilities for features shot in South Africa from Spier Productions Pty Ltd. in Cape Town but also acts as European co-producers through their London office.