Director focuses on 'glossy' film hit

[caption id="attachment_40509" align="alignright" width="405"] LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Eastern Cape director Zuko Nodada's new film is about to be premiered[/caption]

EASTERN Cape director Zuko Nodada's new film about a university reunion in the tradition of The Best Man Holiday and Madea's Family Reunion opens in Port Elizabeth cinemas next month.

Between Friends tells of a group of five university buddies who reunite at an upmarket game lodge seven years after graduation.

But hanging over their reunion is the secret of a wild night they spent together at the same lodge while at varsity.

Nodada, 35, who grew up in Mount Frere, is no stranger to the director's chair with SABC1's Intersexion already under his belt.

The popular Intersexion won the Film and Television Award (Safta) for best drama series in South Africa.

This time around, Nodada takes on a lighter task.

"We wanted to make a story about middle-class South Africans with a feel-good and entertaining storyline."

The idea for the film was first discussed in November and it was shot earlier this year.

Nodada said it was captivating to shoot a film outside of his regular genre. Asked to describe his film, Nodada said: "It really is a high-end movie. It is well shot and edited. The soundtrack is great, the performances natural, and the humour functions on various levels."

Between Friends follows five University friends, Njabulo (Siyabonga Radebe), Nkanyiso (Thapelo Mokoena), Portia (Mandisa Nduna), Winston (Dumisani Mbebe), and Linda (Lihle Dhlomo).

The brief from his partners in the venture, Impucuzeko Skills and Training Development, was to produce a "glossy, upmarket film similar to ones in the US".

Nodada is sure he has delivered. - Yoliswa Sobuwa