Pad Na Jou Hart [Way To Your Heart] (***½)
Directed
by: Jaco Smit
Starring:
Ivan Botha, Donnalee Roberts, Marius Weyers, Wim Beukes, Hélène Truter, Anton
Dekker, Johan Botha, Lida Botha, Solomon Cupido, Lelia Etsebeth, Francois
Jacobs, David James, Jaco Muller, Boikie Pholo, Franci Swanepoel, Marcel van
Heerden, Carmin Coetzer, Anlia van Rensburg, Tshiamo Molobi, Kevin Smith
Seen:
March 31st 2014
***½
Out of ****
If
you’re curious about South Africa and just how diverse and interesting and
beautiful this country can be, Pad Na Jou Hart would be a great place to start.
It’s not just a pretty road trip movie though; it is also a great romantic
comedy drama with a beautiful father and son story to finish things off. It’s sweetly
written and even though the plot might at times seem slightly familiar, it is
excellently entertaining and honestly portrayed by a cast of energetic actors who
seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves in every single frame of the movie.
Pad
Na Jou Hart starts off by introducing us to Basson van Rensburg Snr (Weyers)
and his hotshot son, Basson Jnr (Botha). It is clear that their relationship is
strained as the young and upcoming CEO-to-be plans to gut the family company for
greater profit while Basson Snr. tries to convince his stubborn son of the
value of other things in life. He goes back to Cape Town, leaving Junior in
Johannesburg, who is set on continuing with his plan. Junior attends his Matric
Reunion where he is shown to be nothing but a player with a wallet, and when he
gets back home with another potential one night stand, family lawyer Andre
(Dekker) awaits him and delivers the bad news that his father has died. He
gives Junior a DVD with his father’s last message, which sets Junior the task of
reaching Cape Town in five days, before the funeral, if he wants to become the
new CEO.
Now
you might think he could fly to Cape Town in 2 hours, but his father leaves
instructions for him to follow, a treasure hunt of sorts across South Africa.
The first stop is at the rural home of one of his father’s friends from
varsity, Thomas Ndlovu (Pholo), where his next clue/instruction has him leave
his fast and expensive car, and the stakes are suddenly much higher. He sets
out on foot, but the distance to Cape Town is now not so easily bridged
anymore. He comes across an old car by the side of the road that belongs to
Amory (Roberts), and after he helps her to change a flat tyre, he eventually
gets a lift with her, and she is also en route to Cape Town. The two have a
sweet first meeting, and as they set of to reach Junior’s next destination,
Junior soon enough realises that Amory also has a to-do list of her own, and together
they experience a strange and wonderful and frustrating and fantastic road trip
with numerous odd stops and detours, and as they get to know each other, they
grow closer and closer.
Ivan
Botha gives a great and affecting performance as Junior, with only his initial
time as the heartless businessman not truly coming off, he is perfectly at home
in the character he becomes during the movie. This is the first movie I’ve ever
seen in which I, at an earlier stage in my life, personally knew the leading
lady, and Donnalee honestly delivers a sparkling and very memorable performance
as the girl with a secret, the girl to capture the tough businessman’s heart. The
rest of the cast are clearly enjoying every minute of the movie, and this is
contagious, as I enjoyed not only the movie, but their enjoyment of making it.
The movie features stunning South African landscapes, great humour, funny
setups, and an interesting story that, even though familiar, is delivered with flair
and a good number of small innovations.
I
haven’t enjoyed any Afrikaans movie as much as I enjoyed Pad Na Jou Hart. Despite
a few flaws and some clichés it is truly heart-warming and engaging on multiple
levels. It is funny, emotional, and romantic. Pad Na Jou Hart will make you
want to go on a road trip through our beautiful South Africa.
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