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soweto story |
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An adaptation of "Soweto Story" by Oswald Brandt Logline In apartheid South Africa a hard working mother of an ANC activist finds work in a white household – with deadly consequences. Outline Joyce Khumalo is a thirty-five year old mother of four who struggles to hold her family together while she works as a maid in a white Johannesburg household. The head of the household, Hendrik Van Reenen, is a bigoted man who dislikes all blacks and is suspicious of Joyce’s easy going relationship with his son, Hennie. Hendrik’s wife, Susan, has some sympathy for Joyce – they are both mothers – but makes sure her maid knows her place. Through Joyce’s eyes we see the contrast between life in a white, middle class household, and life in the townships of Soweto. Joyce and her husband Lucas want their children to work hard at school, to be good black students and not cause trouble. Isaac, their eldest son, has other ideas. He is drawn to student politics and becomes an activist. In the white family Hennie is also drawn to student politics, but in a much less active way. He is thinking of leaving South Africa to avoid military service. The Soweto riots explode into the lives of Joyce’s family, and the family of her employer. Isaac is arrested for his active membership of the A.N.C. Hennie is also arrested. He was standing next to an anti-apartheid banner while watching a white student demonstration. Joyce, who knows what is in store for her son, is frantic. She tosses and turns in her sleep, feeling every blow as the police beat Isaac. Hennie, who is released without charge from a white gaol, leaves a note for his parents. He has left his family and South Africa. The police kill Isaac. Susan, who is distraught over the disappearance of her son, and unaware of the fate of Isaac, tells Joyce she does not know what it is like to lose a child. Hendrik fires Joyce. He believes her friendship with his son drove Hennie away from the family. Joyce finds a new job in a friendly office. Although she will never get over the murder of her son, she can, at least, be with her husband and children. When Joyce goes back to the Van Reenen household to collect her back wages she finds a drunken Susan pointing a loaded pistol at Hendrik. Susan blames her husband for driving her son away. Joyce tries to intervene, but Susan accidentally shoots her. Joyce dies, having taken the bullet that was meant for her tormentor. The police detective who murdered Isaac helps Susan rehearse her cover story. Nodding to the dead body of Joyce, he tells Susan, “It was nothing”. |
