Die Kandidaat

Die Kandidaat is a South African drama film by Jans Rautenbach (1936-2016) and Emil Nofal (1926-1986).

The film

The film has been described as South Africa's first political thriller and at the time was regarded as critical of the apartheid system and faced censorship by the authorities.

It tells the story of a shadowy Afrikaner nationalist organisation - not so named but strongly suggesting the Afrikaner Broederbond [1] (i.e. "Afrikaner brotherhood") and its search for a new director. The board members of the organisation delve into the past of a candidate director whom they are interviewing, and rip it apart in the process. This is a stunning depiction of the deceit and prejudices of power, the liberal and conservative divisions in Afrikaner politics and the ambivalent class position of mixed-race Afrikaners.

Written by Jans Rautenbach and Emil Nofal, produced by Emil Nofal, directed by Jans Rautenbach, with music by Roy Martin, cinematography by Vincent G. Cox and editing by Peter Henkel and Harry Hughes.

The cast includes Gert van den Bergh ("Lourens Niemand"), Marié du Toit ("Paula Neethling"), Cobus Rossouw ("Anton du Toit"), Hermien Dommisse ("Anna Volschenk"), Roelf Jacobs ("Dr. Jan le Roux"), Bernadette da Silva ("Jackie Smith"), Tromp Terre'Blanche ("Prof. Hannes van Biljon"), Don Leonard ("Krisjan"), Regardt van den Bergh ("Kallie"), Jacques Loots ("Dominee Perold"), Lourens Schultz ("H.P. Greeff"), Gerrie du Pré ("Isak"), Wilhelm Esterhuizen ("Oom Essie Esterhuizen"), Andries Roux ("Herman Botha") and Madel Venter (Receptionist).