Johannesburg’s beauty and brutality are set to take the spotlight in the new film, “City of Gold”, which is slated for release this year.
Featuring top talents such as Bonko Khoza, Vuyo Dabula, Brandon Auret, Gaosi Raditholo and Given Stuurman, the action film is helmed by Fabien Martorell, who also directed Netflix’s “Collision” as well as “Unbelief”.
Meanwhile, Lucky Rhino has produced the movie and is one of its co-founders.
Neo Baloyi, together with Martorell, are thrilled to take viewers into Jozi’s gritty and electrifying streets as the production is set to explore the city’s duality.
“This movie is part of a slate of projects that we have as a business and it is a natural progression from our last film, “Collision”, Baloyi explained during an interview with “Independent Media Lifestyle”.
The local action movie, which was released in 2021, also starred Khoza and Dabula alongside the late Mpho Sebeng as well as Langley Kirkwood, Zoey Sneedon and Siphesihle Vazi.
The crime thriller tells the tale of a corrupt businessman and his socialite wife, who race to save their daughter from a notorious crime lord over one fateful day.
Their mission “collides” in dramatic fashion as the film also delves into racism, classism, xenophobia, gangsterism and poverty against the backdrop of Johannesburg society.
“We wanted to ramp up the action and elevate the production value on the next movie, which is ‘City of Gold’,” Baloyi said.
He added: “‘Collision’ was special to me because it was the first big film that we produced as part of the business.
“It was difficult to make because a lot of it was shot during the Covid pandemic which brought many challenges so it was very rewarding for us when the audience received it.”
“Each film is left to the audience to decide and you never know how the audience will receive any film.”
Meanwhile, at its core, “City of Gold” is the story of Somandla, played by Khoza, a determined and tormented gangster who is haunted by his father’s death.
As he navigates the dangerous criminal underworld, he encounters a relentless policewoman Rachel Marumo (Raditholo), who is searching for her missing brother, and a corrupt cop John Weigh (Auret) who has sinister motives (Auret).
“What follows is a high-stakes game of survival where ambition, power and morality collide in the shadowy corners of Johannesburg,” a statement read.
“The movie explores themes of power, ambition and betrayal but at the core, this story is about the role that childhood traumas have in our adult lives,” Baloyi said.
The rest of the cast includes Louis Vega, Moss Makwati, Thabo Gabriel Malema, Otto Nobela, Kagiso Rathebe and Daniel Janks.
Baloyi is thrilled to have worked with such a stellar cast and crew.
“I was inspired every day that I got to work with them and since we put pen to paper on the script, Fabian already started imagining who he wanted to play the roles and he was very specific.”
“Thankfully everyone’s schedules aligned and we got the right people on board and we are truly happy with the outcome.”
He added that all those who were part of the production have contributed to his vision.
“Your team matters because film-making is not like a one-man sport, a whole lot of people come together to make this script a reality.”
“Who you choose to work with matters, not just their profile and credentials but also their energies and that is what I took from the last film to this one and that’s working with the right people because it's a tough industry and gruelling.”
“In order to make ‘City of Gold', we shot the whole movie in winter and 80% was shot at night so most of our call time was late hours so it's vital to choose people who could really be with you and believe in the project."
“City of Gold”, shot in Jozi, also combines striking visuals with an evocative score by composer Sacha Chaban.
In addition, cinematographer Gaopie Kabe, a five-time South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) nominee captures the city’s duality and Baloyi said that the result is a film that not only tells a story but also immerses audiences in the spirit of the city itself.
And while an official release has not been announced yet, Baloyi said that he is expecting it to be received well.
“South Africa is ramping up the quality of the type of offerings that we give and I think particularly with us, we throw everything, including the kitchen sink, to making sure we are giving the audience the best quality and story that one could tell.”
He also hopes that “City of Gold” resonates with all those who watch it.
“The reason why I started the production business was to help grow the film industry so I hope that this film inspires filmmakers, the industry and the audience because while some of the film’s themes might be dark, there is also a take-away lesson for everyone."