Latest news with #Bobo
The Citizen
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Salt Rock actress Lexi Venter shines in big-screen debut
From the moment Salt Rock actress Lexi Venter emerges from candlelight in the opening shot of Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, it is clear her face is one to remember. The talented nine-year-old leads the film adaptation of Alexandra Fuller's memoir of the same name, which had its South African premiere at the Durban International Film Festival at Suncoast Casino last Saturday. Remarkably, the film marks the big screen debut for Lexi and the directorial debut for Embeth Davidtz, who also wrote and starred in the film. Told through the eyes of young 'Bobo' (Lexi), the film explores the turmoil as Zimbabwe transitioned from colonial rule to independence in 1980. Bobo is the youngest surviving child of a white farming family unwilling to accept the change, with her father Tim (Rob van Vuuren), an army reservist, and mother Nicola (Davidtz), an alcoholic, each spiralling in their own way. Bobo's older sister, Vanessa (Anina Reed), also has local ties. Although Anina hails from Cape Town, her Ballito-based grandmother, Margie Reed, proudly attended the premiere on Saturday to support her granddaughter's big-screen debut. Despite the hardened, occasionally hateful outlook of her parents and their community, Bobo looks at the world with open-heartedness and youthful empathy. Lexi plays the role with sensitivity and grace, anchoring a film that otherwise may otherwise have been a difficult sit. 'It became clear to me, in the ugliness of what I had to show, that I had to show it through a beautiful lens,' said Davidtz at the premiere. 'So, I had to find the most special child with a sunny disposition and a cinematic face.' That child was Lexi, cast through an open audition in 2023 when she was just seven. Though new to film, she had stage experience in ballet and took to the role naturally during filming near Johannesburg. 'What surprised me is how many people are involved to make a movie and how many times we had to retake the same scene!' said Lexi. 'It was very easy because Embeth was there to help me and everyone was so kind. It was just lovely being on set.' Lexi's entire family played a part. Her mother Vanessa helped supervise, her fether Riaan filmed a few shots, her brother Logan acted and did stunt-double work and even her dog Shadow appeared on screen as Bubbles. Filming was not without its challenges and Lexi remembers a few scenes being particularly difficult. 'There was one was when I was on a horse and the dog was barking and Nicola was screaming and shouting and the horse was turning and twisting and it was so hard to do and I had to remember my lines. It was just crazy!' she said. 'Most of it came naturally, but the sad scenes were pretty difficult for me. I thought of my rat dying because she passed away.' Lexi's performance has received widespread praise and she is already auditioning for other projects. Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight will screen again at The Pavilion on Sunday, July 27, with limited seats available. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
What will happen to your pet if you die? Why animal experts suggest you 'put a plan in place' to avoid a 'nightmare' for your dog
Just before Christmas last year, an energetic English bulldog named Bobo found himself without a home. His young owner had passed away unexpectedly — the victim of a motor-vehicle accident — and there was no plan in place for Bobo's care. In the face of a terrible tragedy, the man's family felt that they couldn't accommodate the rambunctious four-year-old pup. Luckily, they were able to place him in a foster home through Travelling Tails K9 Rescue in St. Catharines, Ont., and he was eventually adopted out. That's a happy ending for a dog who lost both his owner and home in an instant. 'Sometimes, it's not that simple,' says Travelling Tails co-founder Sarah Agner. 'Maybe there's a pet that has aggression issues, hasn't been socialized or has certain ailments.' It can be harder to find homes for those animals. Rescues are also overwhelmed right now, which means they may not have the time or resources to care for every pet that shows up on their doorstep. 'People are out of control with breeding,' Agner says. 'It's like nothing I've ever seen before. I had some dogs that were dropped off in a box on the side of the road. They were days old and I ended up bottle feeding them. I probably have 16 to 20 owner surrenders each week.' If you have the ability to put a plan in place for your pet, then do Agner Your pet could also end up in a shelter, which is a stressful situation for many animals. 'If you have the ability to put a plan in place for your pet, then do it,' Agner says. 'You can save your dog a nightmare trip to the shelter and a lot of anxiety.' Where do I start? Don't assume that someone you know — your partner, parent, child or best friend — will take your pet if something happens to you. Instead, you need to talk with that person about your plans. 'It gets overlooked way more than people realize,' says Agner. 'When you're behind the scenes, you see how often it happens.' Initiate frank conversations with your loved ones to come up with a plan for your pet if the unthinkable happens. Ideally, you'll secure someone who already knows your pet to step in if necessary. Then, make it official. How do I add a pet to my will? Ask your lawyer to add a 'pet clause' where you can name the guardian (or guardians, in the case of multiple animals) that you would like to care for your pet, says Ariel Fried, an estate-planning lawyer at Mann Lawyers in Ottawa. You can also add contingent guardians to the list in case your first choice dies or their situation changes, like if they have kids and decide they don't want to bring an animal into their home. Once you've named every potential guardian in your will, Fried suggests noting that your estate trustee or executor can make the final call on pet care if all other guardians fall through. 'If you've named someone as an estate trustee, you expect them to do a good job with your estate,' says Fried. 'You should also be able to trust them to make a proper decision for your pet if all else fails.' Does naming a pet guardian in my will guarantee they will care for my pet? Unfortunately, no. 'They don't have to take the pet if they don't want to or if they're unable to,' says Fried. 'If they don't feel that they're the right fit, they can definitely turn down the gift.' That's why it's so important to have a conversation with any potential guardians before naming them in your pet clause. What should I do if I have no friends or family to take my pet? Some people don't have a supportive network that they can rely on. If you find yourself in that situation, reach out to local shelters, humane societies and rescues — especially if you're elderly or dealing with a serious illness. They can help you put a plan in place for your pet if something happens. At that point, you can also ensure that they have all of the information they'll need including medical information, notes on behavioural issues, vet contact info and more. What other documentation do I need? Compile all relevant information for your pet and update it regularly. 'Once you're gone, there may be no other way to figure out these things,' Agner reminds. Let your pet guardian know where to find the document. You can even tack it on the fridge. Consider adding these notes to the list: Pet name, birthdate and microchip information Vet name, phone number and address Diet and allergies Illnesses and conditions Medications and doses Behaviour concerns and quirks Do I need to change my will every time I get a new pet? You can, but it will cost money every time you want to make an adjustment. Instead, you might want to create a generic pet clause for any pets you have now or may have in the future. How do I leave money for my pet's care? 'A lot of people consider their pets their children,' says Fried. 'However, in jurisdictions across Canada, pets are considered personal property.' That means that you can't leave an inheritance to your dog or cat. Instead, you have a few options: Cash legacy (gift): Fried recommends setting aside a cash gift for the pet guardian to cover future expenses like food and vet bills. You can include a condition that the person can't accept the money without also accepting the pet. The problem with this option is that there's no guarantee the guardian will actually use the money for the pet. Once they have the cash, they can do whatever they want with it. Trust: You can create a trust for your pet, but Fried says this route can be complicated and costly. 'Typically, people aren't leaving a lot of money for their pets,' he notes, 'so the fees for setting up a trust can really eat up the amount.' Pet insurance: If you have pet insurance, you may want to check that it is transferrable to the pet guardian in the case of your death. What should the amount of the cash gift be? According to Fried, the average amount people leave for pet care is $5,000 to $15,000 — though current vet fees could far surpass that range. For a better estimate, speak to your veterinarian and consider your pet's age and medical history. Keep in mind that you may outlive your current pet and have a different pet (or more than one pet) in the future. 'Ensure that the sum in your will covers all pets,' says Fried. 'Sometimes, people give a lump sum of $15,000 to all pets. Others say, 'I want to leave $5,000 per pet,' for example.' The bottom line Your pet is like family and you want them to be safe and happy. If something happens to you, make sure you have a plan in place so they won't end up scared, anxious and alone. It's the best thing you can do for your animal.
Time Out
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight makes its South African debut
Joburg film lovers, clear your calendars for 25 July. Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, the moving new adaptation of Alexandra Fuller's best-selling memoir, is finally getting its South African premiere. Directed by South African-born actor and filmmaker Embeth Davidtz, this is a story rooted deeply in African soil. Shot in South Africa and adapted for the screen by Davidtz herself, the film offers a rare and emotionally layered portrayal of Zimbabwe's transition from colonial Rhodesia to independence. At the heart of it all is eight-year-old Bobo, played by newcomer Lexi Venter, a young white girl navigating a childhood shaped by grief, shifting family dynamics, and a land at war. The story unfolds through Bobo's eyes, bringing tenderness, innocence, and emotional truth to a time often only seen through historical or political lenses. 'Even in the middle of pain and inherited racism, love and transformation are actually possible,' says Davidtz, who also stars in the film. 'This story helped me process my own childhood in apartheid-era South Africa.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sony Pictures Classics (@sonyclassics) With a stellar local cast that includes Zikhona Bali, Fumani N Shilubana, and Rob Van Vuuren, the film is both intimate and expansive, telling a personal tale against a backdrop of war and cultural upheaval. Behind the scenes, a powerhouse production team backs the film, including executive producers Anele Mdoda, Frankie Du Toit, and Trevor Noah, and acclaimed producers Helena Spring and Paul Buys. Following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film now comes home, offering South African audiences a chance to witness this poignant coming-of-age story where memory, identity, and healing are front and centre.
San Francisco Chronicle
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Review: 'Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight' shows war through one child's extraordinary eyes
'Are we racists?' That's the blunt question posed by Bobo, a white girl living on a farm in Africa, to her horrified (and defensive) mother. There are so many ways this three-word line reading could land wrongly, or just seem forced or mannered. But it feels thoroughly organic when voiced by Lexi Venter, an extraordinary first-time actor who gives, at age 7, one of the more compelling child performances in recent memory in 'Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight.' It's a performance that was seeded, watered and nurtured by Embeth Davidtz, an extraordinary actor herself who wrote, directed and stars in this adaptation of Alexandra Fuller's admired 2001 memoir. One imagines Davidtz, in her triple role (and as a first-time director), had hundreds upon hundreds of decisions to make. Her most important, though, was finding and casting this youngster possessed of a wild nature, a mop of unruly hair and a face like a broad canvas waiting to be painted. The movie, which chronicles one family's life in the turbulent, waning days of white rule in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia), was not always going to be narrated by a child. Davidtz's first attempt at adapting the memoir, told in third person, was too remote, she herself has said. Then she zoomed in on the idea of telling the tale uniquely from Bobo's perspective. Davidtz, who spent much of her childhood in South Africa, was drawn to the project because it recalled her own experience growing up in a world where racial inequality and violence were everywhere, but none of the adult explanations made much sense. The director's own family life also included, like the Fuller family's, mental illness and alcoholism; she has said that neither the outside world nor home life felt safe. And that's how it is for Bobo, 8 years old when we meet her, the younger of two daughters of Nicola and Tim Fuller. We will soon learn that another daughter died as a toddler in a tragic drowning — one of the reasons Nicola (Davidtz) is so emotionally tied to the family farm, as conveyed in one particularly brutal scene brimming with rage. She may not be native to the land, but her offspring is buried in its soil. We begin with Bobo explaining how she's afraid to go alone to pee in the night. 'Terrorists,' as they've been described by the adults, might lurk anywhere, even on the way to the bathroom, carrying a gun or knife or spear. But imaginary threats are accompanied by real ones. During the day, a trip into town with her mother necessitates an escort vehicle. 'I really hope we don't die in an ambush today,' Bobo says casually to an armed guard. This is a child who helps Dad pack his ammo at breakfast. The film, shot in South Africa, is set in the days before and after the 1980 parliamentary election, a crucial vote that will bring the Black majority to power in Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe. Visiting her parents' home, Nicola patronizingly instructs their Black servants on which candidate to support. At home, Nicola's desperation rages. She drinks bourbon by the bottle and sleeps with a huge gun. She doesn't spend much time with her daughters, which leaves Bobo plenty of time to hang out with the animals, ride her motorbike and smoke cigarettes. Such habits earn Bobo the disapproval of her most valued friend, Sarah (Zikhona Bali, in a warm and nuanced performance), one of two adult servants who work on the farm. The other is Jacob (Fumani N. Shilubana), who warns Sarah that her relationship with Bobo is too publicly affectionate in these precarious times. Besides, he tells her, Bobo thinks of her as a 'stupid village girl.' But there is real affection between the two. Privately, they laugh and share stories. And Sarah, conscious of the risks, tries to be the attentive parent Bobo lacks. When she catches the girl, messy-haired and smudgy-faced, smoking she scolds her. 'There's nothing wrong with me, I'm perfect!' Bobo replies, with the self-belief that comes from a childhood spent bossing around people like Sarah. You can direct moments like this, as Davidtz does expertly while somehow turning in a heartbreaking and increasingly unhinged performance of her own. But you can't manufacture lightning in a bottle — for example, the infectious joy Lexi exudes, even while Bobo's family is losing everything, singing a rowdy song about a stripper. Davidtz has said she searched far and wide to find her star, interviewing experienced child actors but not finding the 'feral' girl she needed. A Facebook search yielded Lexi. Davidtz knew she was right before even meeting her in person. Working with the girl three hours a day, she did not give her a script, but rather provided guidance and let her improvise. Nobody's perfect, though Bobo may think she is. But in Lexi's performance, Davidtz has found something pretty close: a child actor who can carry an entire film and never seem like she's acting. Bobo's story has now been told; let's hope we see young Lexi telling many more.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Embeth Davidtz says Spielberg, Altman influenced her directorial debut
LOS ANGELES, July 11 (UPI) -- Embeth Davidtz makes her screenwriting and directing debut in the film adaptation of Alexandra Fuller's memoir Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, in theaters Friday. As an actor on screen since 1989, Davidtz drew on memories of working with directors like Steven Spielberg in Schindler's List and Robert Altman in The Gingerbread Man while making the feature. In a recent Zoom interview with UPI, Davidtz, 59, said she realized she'd been learning from Spielberg and other filmmakers when she stepped behind the camera herself. "I watched Steven set up a shot and be very exacting and specific with his actors," Davidtz said. "I watched Robert Altman move a camera. He had such a beautiful loose style." Davidtz optioned Fuller's book, which chronicles life in Zimbabwe before and after the 1980 election. Her goal was to hire a writer and director, but when she couldn't, decided to take on both roles herself. In her screenplay, Davidtz zeroed in on the portion of the book when 8-year-old Bobo (Lexi Vinter) is living on her parents' farm in Rhodesia, the former Zimbabwe. As the country's 1980 prime minister election approaches, in which Robert Mugabe would defeat Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith, Bobo has grown up apprehensive of Black Africans. Directing 8-year-old Lexi also reminded Davidtz of making the 1996 adaptation of Matilda. "Even Danny DeVito's dealing with a child, he was so beautiful with how he worked with Mara Wilson," she said "I think I was taking in things that helped me as a director long before I ever thought of directing something." Bobo's perspective was the only version of the story Davidtz felt comfortable telling as a White South African herself. Bobo talks about watching out for "terrorists," and bosses around the children of her parents' Black employees, because she learned the behavior. "It's not something she made up," Davidtz said. "That gives you the background to the family that she lives in and the society that she lives in." Davidtz also researched the Shona tribe of Zimbabwe, which factors into the story. She credits actors Zikhona Bali and Shilubana Fumani, both South African, with helping her steer potentially volatile scenes between Black and White characters. It also pleased Davidtz to see that behaving like a child of racist White Rhodesians was foreign to Lexi, who lives in modern South Africa. "She doesn't experience South Africa that way now," Davidtz said. "She said, 'Why do they treat them like that?' Which I thought was really actually hopeful to me that she's grown up in a much more integrated place than I did." Davidtz was a teenager in 1980 and living in South Africa following the Zimbabwe election. That is why she related to Fuller's book. "They were in a war which South Africa was not, but there was a lot of violence around us, a lot of oppression and suppression, people pulled off streets and state of emergencies being declared," she said. "Nelson Mandela was locked up that whole time. Anybody like him was either killed or locked up. It was like this pot boiling." In focusing on Bobo's story, Davidtz's own role shrank. She plays Nicola, Bobo's mother who sleeps with a machine gun in case of attacks by people she would consider terrorists. "Nobody wants to see this terribly racist woman behaving badly for an hour and a half," Davidtz said. "Then once I was directing, I was like let's really make that part as small as possible because I can't do all of it at once." Davidtz found Lexi through a Facebook post. It is Lexi's first role and Davidtz wanted an untrained actor. She also shielded Lexi from some of the more adult content of the film. Davidtz filmed with two cameras at once and gave Lexi instructions on how to react. "The way that I worked with her as a non-actor was not to give her a script," Davidtz said. "I didn't give her scenes to learn. If we were in an emotional scene, she didn't really know what was going on a lot of the time." Lexi did get to smoke cigarettes as one of Bobo's acts of rebellion. They were artificial and Davidtz warned her not to smoke real ones. "I said, 'You know why? Because it's going to make you look old and shriveled up before your time,'" she said. "I saw the eyes widen and she registered what I was saying." Now that Davidtz has directed, she would consider doing it again. She said, however, that it would have to be another passion project like Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight. "I'd have to love my story as much as I love this story," she said. "I fell in love with that memoir. I just thought she'd done such a brilliant job creating those characters and the characters are the reason I thought, 'Oh, this would tell a great story.'"
