Bloedbroers
Bloedbroers ("blood brothers") may refer to (1) a play by Kobus J. Kotze or (2) a TV drama series produced for kykNet (2015)
Contents
Bloedbroers: The stage play
An into Afrikaans translation of Athol Fugard's famous stage play Bloodknot by Kobus J. Kotze, this was originally performed at the Absa KKNK in 2009, directed by Zane Meas with Christo Davids and Hennie Jacobs.
For more on the play, also see The Blood Knot
Bloedbroers: The TV series
Bloedbroers is a 13 x 1 hour drama series produced for kykNet by and aired September – December 2015)
The series
Set during a incredibly tumultuous period of the Afrikaner's development between 1914 and 1948, the story follows the lives of four young men - "Willem", P.G., Gerhard and Bennie - poor white miners who become involved in the 1914 Rebellion by chance. When the Rebellion is unsuccessful, the four young men find themselves at a crossroads - do they continue as before, or do they fight for freedom and a better future. They make the choice to fight, but each in his own way - Bennie through the church and politics, Willem through radical resistance, P.G. by means of the written word, and Gerhard through the trade unions. There and then they decide to cut open their hands and swear a pact to be blood brothers until the end. We follow their lives and see how each one falls in love and starts their own family, survive through the chaos of the 1922 mine workers' rebellion, the depression of the 1930s, the uncertain times during World War II and the build-up to the infamous 1948 election. But to share blood and swear yourselves to be blood brothers is one thing. To honor that oath through all the twists and turns of life is something completely different, especially when your life choice stand in stark contrast to the that of your blood brother.
Sources
KKNK theatre programme, 2009.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniseries
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7014052/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_7
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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