Synopsis

What happens when an Afrikaans guy and a Zulu girl fall in love and have to navigate their way through the complicated process of lobola? It's a recipe for disaster explored in Fanie Fourie's Lobola, a contemporary romantic comedy about love and tradition in a rapidly evolving society.

Funny yet hard-hitting, the film tackles the thorny subject of cross-cultural relationships with humour and honesty. Directed by Henk Pretorius (‘Bakgat!', ‘Bakgat! 2'), and co-written by Pretorius and Janine Eser, Fanie Fourie's Lobola stars talented newcomer Zethu Dlomo as Dinky and film and comedy favourite, Eduan van Jaarsveldt as the affable Fanie. The film is the first from Once Upon a Story, a script development initiative headed by veteran industry leader Paul Raleigh and Janine Eser, which aims to take great South African stories to the big screen and the world. Fanie Fourie's Lobola was produced by Lance Samuel and Kweku Mandela from Out of Africa Entertainment and Janine Eser.

The story begins with Fanie, a young Afrikaner who designs custom cars that resemble African animals. His brother Sarel, played with cheesy aplomb by Chris Chameleon, is a massively successful Afrikaans pop star who is about to marry the “perfect girl.” Fanie still lives with his mother in a home where time seems to have stood still. On a dare, he asks Dinky Magubane, a beautiful Zulu woman and aspiring entrepreneur, to come with him to his brother's wedding. She agrees on the condition that Fanie pretends to be her boyfriend so that she can stop her deeply traditional father from pressurizing her into marriage.

Things go awry when Dinky and Fanie start to fall in love. What began as a hoax to annoy their families becomes a meaningful relationship. The two find themselves bound by their shared sense of humour and a desire to create a life that is different from what their parents expect of them. As they confront cultural differences, family politics, a malicious ex-boyfriend and lobola their relationship breaks down.

But try as they might to stay apart, both have been changed by their feelings for each other. Is love enough for Fanie Fourie and Dinky Magubane?

Fanie Fourie's Lobola was inspired by the book of the same name, written by Nape à Motana.