This is the moving story about a close family being torn apart by the social convictions of the day. It is the story of a mother's enduring love and hope to see her taken son again. Fiela (Sharleen Surtie-Richards) is a down to earth stealthy woman farmer who doesn't let anyone step on her. She raised a white castaway child, Benjamin (Jan Ellis and Dawid Minnaar), and teaches him the simple things in life. After Benjamin is taken away by the white authorities, his mother endure the harsh Outeniqua Mountains to go to town and speak to the Magistrate about her brought-up son. In the South Africa of the day it was unacceptable for a white child to be raised by non-whites. Benjamin is off to the feared Knysna wood where primitive whites dwelled the woods to make a living from wood chopping. Elias (André Rossouw) and Bartha (Lida Botha) take the child under their wings and raises him further into adulthood. The reuniting of Benjamin and Fiela is a heart-broking part in the movie and few cinema-goers will endure it without a tear! This film launched the career of Surtie-Richards, markable one of the best South African actresses since the 1980's. Never have I seen anyone, be it actor or actress, slid into a role like this formidable woman.
Rossouw's manifestation of the wicked Elias is also praiseworthy and shows him as a veteran actor! All and all, this is unquestionably the best South African film of the 1980's!
