With A Bang, Lead Actress, Lerato Walaza, Blazes the Screen with Face Deep
Award-winning movie, Face Deep, which is a South African thriller heads home to grace the screens at Nu Metro, where it premieres on 31 May to the joy of the local audience. It already got decorations on its cap having won an international award in India as the Best International film at the Cuckoo International Film Festival early this year.
The film has delectable South African lead actress, Lerato Walaza playing Luna, the young lady who falls in love and gets into a relationship with an elderly pensioner called Noah – played by Philip Tindisa, has surfaced at film awards like the 2024 Luminax International Film Festival, the Liverpool Indie Awards and the Denver Award which runs monthly.
This is quite an honor and attestation to the great work done by all the members of the cast, the director of the film, Vuyani Bila observed, and it was deservedly so according to the various panel of judges at the award ceremonies.
Lerato spoke with MDNTV on her entry into the world of thespians and role played in the new film. Excerpts
On inspiration, motivation
Since the age of 13, this desire to be an actress has been there. My mother supported me and even approved of attending an art school and then to the university.
Looking at how easy it is for me to switch roles, I know that this is rooted in the talent that I have to carry, in a special way, the ability to play roles assigned me such that people can easily relate with it. When on set, I am a different person; I have to let go of myself so I am not limited. Lerato is put to rest and then takes over as the other person only to be picked up after that role is done.
On choice of the character she plays
Sometimes, I do if I believe I can carry on with the character laid out in the script. For me, being an actress is a calling, and it is very fascinating to ‘create’ a whole new person from script to life. There is a synergy that plays out especially when a number of us attended the same institution.
We raise talks on campus like becoming independent film makers as taught in the university. Sometimes the challenges of the industry are better handled with people you grew up with and have had conversations all along. This is sometimes necessary to break into the world of movies.
There is need to network and join forces in deploying talents and craft acquired to make things work.
On divine intervention
As the preparation of this film was coming, something happened that made me ascribe this to divine intervention. There is a day that I changed my wall paper of my room to the picture of the moon (Lunar) and 10 minutes later, Mathabo, the producer informs me of the role (of Luna) to be played in the movie.
Thereafter, a meeting was scheduled to discuss the role, and mental health issues that are serious public conversation in family and individual lives. I feel this subject matter is challenging enough and should convey the attention needed. Again, the movie was shot in townships so that people can identify with the problem or those who have been through it themselves.
On Mental health and stigma
This is a conversation far-reaching in society especially due to the stigma associated with it. In Africa, it is still associated to witchcraft in many cases, and there is lack of education in that area.
A film like Face Deep will take its place in public enlightenment on mental health. It goes to portray the differences between a sociopath and psychopath, and one that has been exposed to trauma and grew with it to become the adult Luna.
Mental issues can start early in life depending on how a person was raised or in what kind of societal environment. Weak support structures can negatively affect the person later when adulthood comes. Luna herself never saw anything wrong in her attitude in her behavior until being exposed beyond what she knew.
Face Deep is part entertaining, but it teaches; it raises the consciousness of people to this mental health challenge.
On counsel for young artistes
I like being focused though life has its trials and challenges, one got to know one’s purpose and keep at it. Young people got to know why they are doing what they are into and don’t lose focus. We have a lot of growing to do, though we have come a long way as an industry. I encourage all our people to come out to support us.
For me, God is the source of my strength and center of all my activities.
PART 2 - Preview
The film, Face Deep, a sneak preview
Meet Lerato, the gifted actress as she brings life to the part she played in the emotion-laden and drama-filled film, Face Deep,on the big screen. Lerato lays bare the character, ‘Luna,’ which she plays in the movie. See the central team in this venture:
Luna and her pensioner lover, Noah, face realities in a relationship that unfolds human flaws especially from the older male partner. The age disparity and the life loaded with mixed experiences (of Noah) and bottled up dissatisfaction begin to bear on the relationship.
In addition, pressure starts to mount on Luna whose expectation was initially upbeat, but flounders when Noah’s out-of-favor daughter, Sonnie, shows up; she wanted to reconcile issues with her father. Two young ladies who are really strangers come together under one roof, but rapport between them never really took off.
Of necessity, each wants a better attention from Noah, the man of the house – a father and a lover in the circumstance. It is quite a task for him to uncover the ‘hidden’ in the hearts of the ladies, and to run his life smoothly. The detail of this interesting film beckons on the cinema-loving public on 31 May.
Face Deep promises to be full of suspense and guaranteed to keep the audience on the edge of their seat through the run time of one and a half hour of the film.
Type: Feature, Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes 51 seconds, Completion Date: February 5, 2024
Country of Origin and filming: South Africa, Shooting Format: Digital and Film Color: Color
