The South African film "God’s Work" marks a milestone as it will have its Middle East and North Africa premiere in the Long Film Competition at the 15th Luxor African Film Festival in Egypt, taking place from March 30 to April 5.
Directed and written by Michael James and produced by Sithabile Mkhize, the film tells the story of a group of unhoused men seeking refuge in a crumbling building. As they struggle with life on the streets, their dreams and haunted memories blur the line between reality and illusion.
The film, which had its South African premiere at the Durban International Film Festival last year, screened to sold-out audiences and received critical acclaim. It is also scheduled to be shown at the Joburg Film Festival on Sunday, March 8.
Set in Durban, "God’s Work" follows the lives of men surviving on the margins of society in a dilapidated building that offers only a fragile sanctuary. Bound by quiet loyalty, the men navigate a world of indifferent authorities, opportunists, and looming violence. Their inner worlds, woven from memories, visions, and ghosts, offer a reality as vivid and compelling as the harsh life they endure.
Director Michael James describes the film as “an act of bearing witness,” one that challenges audiences to reconsider their understanding and relationships with unhoused people.
The film features performances by Thobani Nzuza, Mbulelo Radebe, Omega Ncube, Siya Xaba, Zenzo Msomi, and Nduduzo Kholwa, with cinematography by Jared Hinde and a score by award-winning West African-born composer George Acogny.
"God’s Work" is produced by Sithabile Mkhize, co-produced by Marco Orsini (USA), and executive produced by Toni Monty (SA) and Gary Springer (USA). The production is a Maverick Resistance project in association with the KwaZulu-Natal Film and Tourism Authority, the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, Amafrika Films, and Mojo Entertainment LLC, with support from the Durban Film Office.
According to KZN Tourism & Film Authority, “'God’s Work' is a South African surrealist drama set in Durban. The film follows a brotherhood of homeless men navigating poverty, addiction, and systemic neglect, largely seen through the perspective of Simphiwe, whose vivid, dreamlike visions blur the line between reality and illusion. Incorporating a film-within-a-film narrative, 'God’s Work' examines marginalisation and the complexities of representation.”
With this Middle East and North Africa premiere, "God’s Work" cements its place as a significant South African cinematic achievement, bringing its bold storytelling and social commentary to an international stage.
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za