From en.wikipedia.org:
[2017 Zimbabwean romantic comedy film by Tomas Brickhill] [text=the 2007
American mockumentary comedy film Cook Off!] [date=October 2020] {{Infobox
film | name = Cook Off | image =
File:Cook-off-south-african-movie-poster-md.jpg | caption = Film poster |
director = Tomas Brickhill | producer = Joe Njagu | writer = Tomas Brickhill |
starring = Tendaiishe Chitima<br>Fungai Majaya<br>Tehn Diamond | music = Ryan
Koriya | cinematography = | editing = | studio = Mufambanidzo Film Company |
distributor = Mufambanidzo Film Company<br>Netflix | released = [df=y] |
runtime = 101 minutes | country = Zimbabwe | language = English | budget = |
gross = }}
_COOK OFF_ is a 2017 Zimbabwean romantic comedy film written and directed by
Tomas Brickhill.[1] Set in contemporary middle class society of Harare, the
film stars Tendaiishe Chitima, Fungai Majaya and Tehn Diamond.[2] Production
of the film was delayed by power failures, budget constraints, anti-government
protests, and riots which erupted during the final stages of the Presidency of
Robert Mugabe. It is the first film released after the Zimbabwe Mugabe era,
which lasted for nearly 40 years.[3] The film also became the first Zimbabwean
film to be streamed on Netflix.[4][5] It is the second Zimbabwean film to
reach Western audiences and critics since _Neria_, in 1991.[6][7] The film
received critical acclaim in Zimbabwe_,_ with some drawing comparisons to the
cultural influence of _Neria_ and _Yellow Card_. The film is credited by
journalists domestically as a milestone in the Zimbabwean film industry, which
has been troubled by economic crisis and hyperinflation.[8]
** Synopsis
When single mother Anesu (Tendaiishe Chitima) is secretly entered into a
reality television cooking competition by her son, she must overcome the
disapproval of her mother and the rivalry of professional chefs. She also
finds love during the competition.
** Cast
- Tendaiishe Chitima as Anesu
- Fungai Majaya as Milly Ann
- Tehn Diamond as Prince
- Tomas Brickhill as JJ
- Jesese Mungoshi as Anesu's grandmother
- Shingai Shoniwa (cameo appearance)
- Sylent Nqo
** Production
The principal photography of the film commenced in 2017 when Robert Mugabe was
still the president of Zimbabwe. The initial days of the shooting procedure
of the film was disrupted by regular power cuts and the production team was
forced to hire power generator for the shooting.[9][10] The film budget was
limited to only food and bottled water for the cast and crew members. The
daily budget limit was estimated around $20 equivalent to 18 euros which was
insufficient to meet the expenditure on bottled mineral water. The film cast
and crew consisted mostly of young artistes and film producer Njagu reportedly
made deferred contracts with the cast and crew members instead of making an
agreement for an immediate payment due to financial tussles. According to the
lead actress of the film Chitima, none of the cast members had not received
the payment for their work and efforts in the film.[11] By December 2020 all
cast and crew had received payment in full. The film was completed with a low
initial budget of only $8000.[12][13]
The portions of the film were predominantly shot on the sets of ZBC TV's
reality show _Battle of the Chefs: Harare_, a Zimbabwean version of the
popular American reality television show _Top Chef_.[14] The film shooting
proceeded in the sets of the _Battle of the Chefs_ at a time when the show
went off-air. The film director Brickhill in an interview with _The Guardian_
revealed that the film wouldn't have materialized without the support of
_Battle of the Chefs_ sets and financial support from voluntary donors.<ref
name=":0" /> The cast members also used the costumes, props and cooking pots
from the sets of the _Battle of the Chefs_.
Popular UK indie rock band Noisettes was roped into feature in the soundtrack
of the film. Shingai Shoniwa of the Noisettes band was also roped into play
the cameo appearance in the film.[15] The shooting was also delayed on few
occasions as few of the cast members were unable to commit to the schedule
allocated to them due to the tear gas and riots in Harare which erupted
against Robert Mugabe's administration.[16] Despite the odds and obstacles,
the film production regained momentum after the infamous successful ousting of
Robert Mugabe on 17 November 2017.
** Release and reception
The film had its debut release in a homemade cinema at the rooftop of the New
Ambassador Hotel in Harare on 31 December 2017 and was later released at the
Reps Theatre.[17][18] Soon after its theatrical release, the film was screened
at various international film festivals held in South Africa, Netherlands, US,
Botswana, Kenya, Swaziland, Belgium and New Zealand. The film was officially
selected for premiere at the Nairobi Film Festival (June 2019), Cambria Film
Festival, Rotterdam International Film Festival (January 2020), Seattle
International Film Festival (May–June 2018), Afrika Film Festival (May 2019),
Bushfire Festival (May 2019), Auckland New Zealand African Film Festival
(February 2019), Zimbabwe International Film Festival, Pan African Film
Festival, Silicon Valley African Film Festival (July 2018), Cannes Festival
International du Film Pan-Africain (April 2019) and at the Durban
International Film Festival (July 2018).[19][20] It also became the first
Zimbabwean film in 22 years after _Neria_ to have officially selected at the
Rotterdam International Film Festival.[21] The film was opened to generally
mixed reviews from critics.[22] The film had its London premiere at the
Mayfair Hotel on 27 July 2019 and also featured in BBC World
Service.[23][24][25]
It was reported that the American streaming platform Netflix during mid March
2020 sealed a deal with the filmmakers in order to obtain the streaming rights
of the film for an undisclosed record price.[26] The director also refused to
disclose the amount regarding the Netflix deal.[27] In May 2020, the
filmmakers confirmed that the film would be released in Netflix platform in an
official announcement in Twitter.[28] It also marked the first instance where
Netflix acquired a Zimbabwean film.[29] The film made its debut in Netflix on
1 June 2020 after two and a half years since its theatrical release in
Zimbabwe. It also became Zimbabwe's first feature film to be released via
Netflix.[30] The film was deemed as relatively unknown by most of the
Zimbabwean people until its release in Netflix.[31]
The television rights of the film was bought by the state channel ZBC
Television and the film made its television debut on 11 August 2020.[32]<ref
name=":1" />
** Awards and nominations
The film received few awards and nominations at film festivals. It bagged a
total of four awards at the film festivals, including two each at the 2020
Cambria Film Festival.[33] and Zimbabwe International Film Festival.[34][35]
The film also received two National Arts Merit Awards presented by the
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe in 2019. {| class="wikitable" width="60%" !
style="width:10pt; background:LightSteelBlue;" |Year ! style="width:100pt;
background:LightSteelBlue;" |Award ! style="width:40pt;
background:LightSteelBlue;" |Category ! style="width:50pt;
background:LightSteelBlue;" |Result |- | rowspan="2" |2018 | rowspan="2"
|Zimbabwe International Film Festival |Best Feature | [won] |- |Best Actress |
[won] |- | rowspan="2" |2019 | rowspan="2" |National Arts Merit Awards |Best
Actress | [won] |- |Best Feature | [won] |- | rowspan="2" |2020 | rowspan="2"
|Cambria Film Festival |Nancy Green Founder's Award - Best Film | [won] |-
|Audience Award - Best Feature | [won] |- | rowspan="1" | | rowspan="1"
|Afrika Film Festival |Student Jury Award | [nom] |- | rowspan="1" | |
rowspan="1" |Ambrosia Film Festival |Best Film | [nom] |}
** See also
- Tanyaradzwa
- List of Zimbabwean films
** References
[Reflist]
** External links
- [id=tt7981318]
- [Netflix title]
- http://cookoffthemovie.com/colibri-wp/ [url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808150110/http://cookoffthemovie.com/colibri-wp/ ]
Category:2017 films Category:Zimbabwean comedy films Category:2017 romantic
comedy films Category:2010s English-language films Category:English-language
Zimbabwean films Category:English-language romantic comedy films