"Stuur Groete aan Mannetjies Roux" is a 2013 Afrikaans movie directed by Paul Eilers. The movie tells the story of a teenage girl named Engela who visits her uncle Frans and aunt Koba's Karoo farm during the school holidays. A journey of discovery starts - she has to find out who she really is and where she comes from. Three visitors in one week change her life forever and her uncle's obsession with the rugby try by Mannetjies Roux is at last explained.
The movie is a slow-paced drama about the poisonous effects secrets have on relationships, soaking in at the same time the timelessness of its landscapes in the Karoo. The pace mimics this, in a good way, giving the plot and the audience enough time to fully realize the implications of the eventual revelations. The cinematography is stunning, and the performances by the cast are exceptional. Ian Roberts and Anna-Mart van der Merwe are old hands in the SA movie business, and this experience shows, with a powerful closing performance from Van der Merwe. They had the right mix of love and jealousy which baked as hard as the Karoo sun. Alongside these two pros, the side characters were also vivid, interesting and played a role in the plotline.
Overall, "Stuur Groete aan Mannetjies Roux" is a must-see film that will leave you moved and inspired. It is a masterpiece that deserves to be seen and appreciated by all.
