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RIGHT: Nomsa
Nene plays Poppie’s
mom, Lenah. She
was the star of the
original theatre
production.
BELOW: Clementine
and Rolanda Marais
as Magriet, Poppie’s
boss’ sister.
Clementine hopes
the movie will help
domestic workers
and their employers
get to know one ABOVE: Clementine with on-screen daughter
another better. Thandi, played by Letlotlo Zimkhitha Mohlabeng,
and son Weekend, played byThembalethu Ntuli.
BELOW: The movie explores how Poppie feels
about spending more time with her employer’s
daughter Chrissie Swanepoel (played by Kathryn
Visser) than her own kids.
Clementine is at the heart of the film, would have been very proud to see me in Africa to perform in Afrikaans on stage.
says Christiaan Olwagen, the movie’s this movie. She didn’t realise at the time that the
directorandco-screenwriter.“Thescript “My mother proved to me that a black playwouldresonatearoundSouthAfrica
wasthebonesuntilClementinecamein woman can be anything, from a journal- and the world, mirroring the lives of
andgaveitabeatingheart,”hetoldCarte ist to a doctor. But most black women countless women such as Poppie.
Blanche. still probably work in kitchens.” “I was involved in protest theatre too,
Clementine’s grandmother was a do- The film and the book on which it’s as it was a way for me and other artists
mestic worker who “struggled to put based “are as relevant now, as in the to fight for our rights. I was proud to be
food on the table because of the govern- 1970s,” she adds. performing Poppie’s story and saying,
ment’soppressivelaws,”theactresssays. “I believe everything happens for a rea- ‘Hear me out, hear us, we can’t live like
“It’s painful to think about it. She and son. These hardships remind us that we, this’.”
other domestic workers lived and as human beings, can’t live consumed by Her grandmother, coincidentally also
worked in the same South Africa, but hatred and never forgiving others. named Lenah, was a domestic worker
weren’t treated fairly because of the “We need to remember that forgive- who inspired her portrayal of Poppie.
colour of their skin. ness is an individual thing. It’s not a mob “I couldn’t separate myself from the
“Elsa’s book is a celebration of strong thing.” story. It was what I’d lived through.”
women and how we can be even strong- “If the film can draw attention to the
er together. She was brave enough to OMSA chuckles as she recalls domestic worker who works in your
write with such compassion about a auditioning for the role of home, it has succeeded in its purpose.
woman of a different race.” Poppie 35 years ago. There are still workers who are being
Clementine’s late parents, Sophie “I was working part-time as exploited, who aren’t paid what they’re
a sales lady at Foschini and
Tema and Moroe Mosimane, were jour- dition during my lunch hour,” she says. worth.
“They’re not yet free.” S
nalists at the newspaper The World, Nember going to the au-
I rem
MELANIE CLEARY, RETHA FERGUSON ernment. in Johannesburg to try her luck and was S Poppie Nongena is showing in South
which was banned by the apartheid gov-
She had rushed to the Market Theatre
African cinemas now.
“Through my parents I learned a lot
about what was really going on in the
thrilled when she got the call a few days
EXTRASOURCES:AFRICANNOVELSINTHECLASSROOMEDITEDBY
MARGARETJEANHAY;LIKEFAMILY:DOMESTICWORKERSINSOUTH
country,” she recalls.
later saying she’d be the play’s lead – and
AFRICANHISTORYANDLITERATUREBYENAJANSEN;SAHISTORY.
“They supported me in everything and
become the first black woman in South
ORG.ZA;CSMONITOR.COM;VROUEKEUR.CO.ZA
you.co.za 6 FEBRUARY 2020 | 89
