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The Citizen
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Playing Dad: How film speaks to fathers' desires and struggles of fatherhood
The short film 'Playing Dad' was officially released on Heartlines' YouTube channel on Friday, just in time for Father's Day. The newly released film Playing Dad was inspired by the needs identified by the Fathers Matter project research and community engagement, says project coordinator Lereko Mfono. 'Many men want to be involved in the lives of their children but don't always know how and worry they might lose respect by leaning into constructive playtime,' Mfono said. ALSO READ: Father's Day: A guide to buying dad a gift that has meaning Obstacles for fathers Father Matters, an initiative of Heartlines, the Centre for Values Promotion, is a campaign that harnesses the power of storytelling to support the positive and active role of fathers and men in the lives of children. The report by Fathers Matter highlighted an essential barrier to dads' engagement with their children – the lack of parenting skills. The State of South Africa's Fathers 2024 report and Heartlines' Fathers Matter research found that more than 60% of children are growing up without their biological father in the home. However, many are raised by father figures, including uncles, grandfathers, older brothers, or male role models in the community. The research found that four common factors driving father absence were economic pressure, harmful cultural norms, rigid gender roles and the lack of support and parenting knowledge. 'Due to many factors, including societal perceptions of the role of fatherhood, there is a lack of knowledge of how to be a positive, engaging, practical father,' Mfono said. ALSO READ: 'Heartlines' series returns nearly 20 years after sparking national conversation with 8 key values [VIDEO] Playing Dad film Playing Dad was officially released on Heartlines' YouTube page on Friday, just in time for Father's Day. It is a story about a father navigating the complexities of fatherhood. In the short film, leading actor Vincent Mahlape plays the character of Mpendulo, a carpenter who suddenly finds himself in charge of his young son, Ndumiso. As Mpendulo fumbles his way through snack times and storybooks, he discovers that play isn't just for kids, it's the glue that binds fathers and sons. In 2006, Heartlines launched a campaign called '8 weeks, eight values-one national conversation' through eight television dramas broadcast on SABC. Mahlape says, like many South Africans, he grew up watching those impactful stories. 'I grew up watching Heartlines films – we all did,' he says. 'I particularly remember Hopeville.' Playing Dad was Mahlape's first time playing opposite a child on set and he says it's been a highlight for him. He is a father to a nine-year-old son and shares that he learnt a lot from the character of Mpendulo and about what fathering means through the eyes of a child. 'It's not about just providing for your child's needs. A simple body adjustment – like going down to a child's level – makes so much of a difference in how they receive your message when you speak to them,' he says 'Being a father is more than having a baby. The little stuff means a lot more to a child than you ever think. Like playing – it looks small, but it means a lot. It helps them open up to you, and it teaches you about yourself.' NOW READ: Ofentse Tsipa: The 'global mama' on being a South African on Kenya's The Mommy Club
IOL News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
'Playing Dad' a film redefining fatherhood through play
Vincent Mahlape, Eric Mogale, Siyamthanda Nxumalo and Neo Ntlatleng who star in "Playing Dads". Picture: Supplied/Heartlines Image: Supplied/Heartlines In many societies, fatherhood is often narrowly defined as providing financial support and enforcing discipline. For some men, the idea of playing with their children feels foreign, or even daunting, as play is typically seen as the mother's domain. "Playing Dad", however a new film by the social behavior change NPO Heartlines, challenges this limited view by highlighting the crucial role of fathers in their children's early learning and development. The film shows how active, engaged play not only benefits young minds but also strengthens the father-child bond. 'Can I be playful with my child and still earn his respect?' This is the central question faced by Vincent Mahlape's character, Mpendulo, in "Playing Dad". Neo Ntlatleng, Vincent Mahlape and Siyamthanda Nxumalo who star in "Playing Dad". Picture: Supplied/Heartlines Image: Supplied/Heartlines Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading It's a dilemma familiar to many fathers raised to believe that their main purpose is to provide and discipline not to connect or nurture. Through Mpendulo, a strict, traditional carpenter, the film gently plants the idea that fathers can and should, embrace play as part of their parenting journey. When his wife is called away unexpectedly for a family emergency, Mpendulo is left to care for their young son, Ndumiso (played by 6-year-old Siyamthanda Nxumalo). What begins as a reluctant duty soon becomes an eye-opening experience that challenges everything he thought he knew about being a father. The story also unpacks deeper societal issues that discourage men from fully engaging with their children. In South Africa, the shadow of gender-based violence (GBV) has created an atmosphere of suspicion around men's involvement with young children. When Mpendulo is called to address a crisis at Ndumiso's early childhood development (ECD) centre, he realises just how unwelcome fathers can feel in spaces designed for young kids, an exclusion that reflects broader cultural attitudes. "Playing Dad" seeks to shift these perceptions. It encourages fathers to take a more active, playful role in their children's lives and calls on ECD centres to make space for dads in their programmes. At its core, the film promotes a vision of fatherhood that is nurturing, hands-on, and essential to a child's healthy development. 'Five years ago, we published research showing that one of the biggest barriers to fathers' involvement is simply a lack of parenting skills,' says Lereko Mfono, Fathers Matter Project Coordinator and a 'playing dad' himself. 'Because of deeply ingrained societal expectations, many men don't know how to be positive, practical, and emotionally present fathers.' Both research and real-life stories affirm that when fathers or positive male role models are actively involved in a child's upbringing, the risks of boys becoming perpetrators and girls becoming victims of violence, including GBV, are significantly reduced. Yet harmful stereotypes continue to shame or sideline men who want to engage fully with their children, especially during the critical years of early childhood. Playing Dad challenges these norms, offering a hopeful message: that fatherhood can and should include joy, play, and presence. The cast of "Playing Dad" also includes Luyanda Mzazi, Neo Ntlatleng, Dimakatso Lebeoana and Pheello Sehlolo. The film (the seventh in the Fathers Matter anthology) will launch on the Fathers Matter website and the HeartlinesZA YouTube channel on Friday, June 13, ahead of Father's Day on June 15. IOL Entertainment
The South African
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
How 'Playing Dad' will celebrate the fathers of South Africa
With Father's Day approaching, a film centred around the ideals of fatherhood called Playing Dad has been released. This seventh film in the Heartlines Father's Matter series premiered this past Wednesday at Hyde Park in Johannesburg. The story follows Mpendulo, a strict carpenter who unexpectedly finds himself responsible for his young son, Ndumiso. As Mpendulo struggles with things like bedtime stories, he learns that playing isn't just for children. He learns that play can bind fathers and sons. Just as their bond strengthens, an intense situation at Ndumiso's early childhood development centre might derail their progress as father and son. Vincent Mahlape stars in this feature as the lead role of Mpendulo. He said that the script drew him in, 'It is a story that addresses social issues,' he commented. 'We witness this daily in our communities. I wanted to explore Mpendulo's journey and get a sense of what he understands fatherhood to be versus what fatherhood is.' Mahlape said there can be a lot of internal conflict that stems from childhood and upbringing that shapes fathers to be the men they are, which is what he believes the case to be with Mpendulo. 'Mpendulo is a mirror for many men to decide if they are happy with what they see or would like to change something about themselves.' Mahlape adopted a meticulous approach to playing this role, which involved introspection and interrogation. 'This does not include judging him. It was about understanding Mpendulo's background, his upbringing, family ties, his wants, needs, flaws, etc. 'All of the details then inform how I approach the character based on my knowledge and what I observe in everyday life. I build up from there and give him his physicality, which includes his walk, mannerisms, voice, speech patterns, personality, etc,' he elaborated. 'No man is perfect, but I believe that if we commit to bettering ourselves, we can be close to it. As a young father myself, there is a lot that I am learning about myself, my son and fatherhood. The film gave me access to information that I otherwise wouldn't have known.' He explained that he learnt that going down, physically, to your kid's level and maintaining eye contact helps get your message across while creating a safe space for your child. 'The role also made me understand that fatherhood is a journey, things will happen, but how you address issues is important.' The passionate lead actor said that working with Eric Mogale, the film's director and producer, was a pleasure. 'His energy is infectious. Eric is a very hands-on and collaborative director, which makes the crew and cast feel like one big family. He has a good understanding of kids, which was extremely helpful in our scenes with our young star Siyamthanda [Nxumalo]. 'He was clear in his vision for the story and also allowed the cast to live thoughtfully – unapologetically in scenes which made it a lot easier to tap into different emotional moments that are sometimes very demanding.' 'My involvement with Fathers Matter stems from my love and passion for storytelling,' Mogale explained. 'Especially complex social issues. With my experience as a director and producer, I have been equipped with the skills to address sensitive issues like fatherhood and traditional matters.' Mogale revealed that extensive research was done to keep the film authentic. 'We had to go to early childhood development centres, and we stayed at these for days, getting to feel what it feels like to be in that space. Understanding the children and what fathers are battling with out there.' He was thrilled with the mood he; his cast and crew were able to cultivate on set. 'This was one of the most beautiful sets to work on. We had the usual challenges of tight schedules and giving the little man a break. We can't overwork them as they have time limits.' He had nothing but praise for the actors he was able to enlist for this production. 'These actors required very little direction. Collaborating with youngsters and getting them to understand the situation in scenes where they must cry was hard. So, helping them get in and then out of that moment was demanding. But it was easy to achieve those moments.' He said his lead actor was amazing to work with and easy to direct. Mogale said they had almost wrapped up their search for the lead role when their casting director added two more submissions to the pile, one of which was Mahlape's audition. 'The moment they played Vincent's tape, we paused and sat down. We knew he was the guy. His timing and performance…he doesn't overdo things. You don't have to do much as a director.' Mahlape hopes this film leaves the audience with a feeling of hope. 'It is a film that intends to start conversations about fatherhood in today's age. It highlights fatherhood, responsibility, learning and unlearning.' Playing Dad will be available on the Heartlines website from June 13. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
