IN a refreshing move in the arts sector, Rooftop Promotions is set to adapt Stephen Chifunyise’s play, Wedding Night into a film.
Rooftop founded and headed by the controversial Davies Guzha, is more popular for promoting works that denigrate the Government and person of President Robert Mugabe.
Funded by Western sponsors, Rooftop was one of the tools widely used in the regime change agenda.
Some plays promoted by Guzha such as Super Patriots and Morons have been so extreme and bad that they have been banned in the country.
Other satirical plays that are not steeped in fact, but in rabid need to paint a vile picture of the Government and its programmes that have been promoted include Stanley Makuwe’s The Coup and Silvanos Mudzvova’s Protest Revolutionaries.
The plays have not only painted a negative picture about Zimbabwe, but sought to reverse the gains made in the country thus far.
Thus it is fascinating that Rooftop Promotions’ Creative Native a division for video and film production will be adapting Chifunyise’s play into film.
The positive gesture by Rooftop is welcome as a true Zimbabwean story gets an opportunity to reach a wider audience through film.
One cannot help, but feel that the man is coming back home, it is not a wild conclusion as former sponsors, the West, are now eager to re-engage with the country.
The regime change agenda having failed, the West has now noted that the will of the people cannot be subverted and now has no other option, but to work with the Government that has been given its mandate by the masses.
In a press release, Rooftop Promotions said the film will hit the big screen next month.
Zimbabwe’s top actors and actresses will feature in the film.
Wedding night is an exploration of the procedures and ceremonies of a traditional marriage.
The film will be directed by Joe Njagu who directed Lobola and The Gentleman.
It is centred on one Farai who is persuaded by family and friends to respect his traditional values and marry his lover Chipo in a traditional way.
Although these ideas are met with contempt by Chipo’s relatives, it proves to be a breakthrough for Farai who gains respect and acknowledgement from his in- laws.
Chipo’s role is played by the winner of the 2013 NAMA Award for Best Actress, Nyaradzo Nhongonhema.
Tapiwa Mavindidze who featured in the soap, Studio 263 actor as ‘VJ’ and has also acted in Sinners as Romeo and Gringo ‘the troublemaker’ plays the role of Farai
Complementing the two is veteran actor and filmmaker Steven Chigorimbo ‘Max’ who acts as Chipo’s father.
The cast also includes Getrude Munhamo, Caroline Mashingaidze, Stella January, Edmore Sandiforo and Anthony Tongani among others.