Latest news with #Speelman
Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
Adam — a raw exploration of masculinity, race and resilience
Adam challenges traditional ideas of manhood through the story of a young man navigating the harsh realities of a strict farm school in South Africa. Drawing from personal experiences and social influences, directors Liyema Speelman and Winford Collings craft a powerful narrative about identity, belonging and breaking free from outdated norms. Liyema Speelman, co-director of the powerful new drama Adam, challenges traditional binaries through the story of a young man confronting the weight of patriarchy and finding healing in its aftermath. More than just a coming-of-age story, Adam offers a raw look at the emotional armour young men are expected to wear, to hide any sort of vulnerability. Fresh out of high school, Adam is trying to define his identity while learning to survive the harsh realities of a rigid farm school. Resilience, he discovers, isn't a choice; it's a lifeline. Directed by Speelman and Winford Collings, the film is part of Showmax's first-time directors slate in partnership with the Joburg Film Festival. The duo began working on Adam in 2023. After its premiere on 4 May, Speelman spoke to Daily Maverick about the inspirations and personal reflections that shaped the film. Adam, played by Marko Voster, is a hot-headed teenager questioning the next steps for his future after finishing high school. Without any warning, Adam is sent to a technical farm school to give him a new sense of direction. As he gets used to his new environment, Adam is forced to leave his 'old identity' behind and 'toughen up'. From the moment Adam arrives at the farm school it's clear that discipline – and abuse – reigns supreme. The institution, founded by the late father of its authoritarian headmaster (played by Dirk Stoltz), is steeped in legacy. But that legacy casts a long shadow that pushes the headmaster into an obsessive drive to live up to his father's image, ultimately leading him towards unravelling. Adam becomes a target of the built-up rage that the headmaster carries. While his schoolmates try to stay out of harm, Adam suffers, often in isolation, and is fearful to speak up. The brutal abuse he endures forces him to confront and redefine what strength and manhood truly mean. Why is this film relevant today? Adam is reminiscent of the popular South African original film, Moffie, directed by Oliver Hermanus, which came out in 2021. Both films explore initiation through the lens of military training, often portrayed as a rite of passage meant to transform boys into men. Adam draws inspiration from the personal experiences of both directors. Speelman reflects on his time growing up in an all-boys school in Port Elizabeth, which he attended from Grade 1. He recalls how slurs and name-calling, often with references to cult cartoon South Park, were a normalised part of daily life. 'If [these] are the only things that you have known, it becomes an afterthought,' he says, 'but soon this afterthought makes you realise that the 'normality' there is slightly incorrect. 'It takes us as filmmakers to kind of mirror [those experiences] and simply create a new path or give new suggestions as to what people should be doing nowadays.' Andrew Tate and the influence of the manosphere Even today, boys and men are often taught, whether subtly or forcefully, that showing emotion is a weakness. At the farm school, Adam's lack of athleticism sets him apart, and he's punished for it. Beyond the film, social media adds to the pressure, with hyper-masculine influencers pushing harmful ideals onto young and often vulnerable minds. Adam challenges this mindset, offering raw, emotional moments that reveal there's real strength in vulnerability. The directors were also inspired by the 1985 film Come and See, directed by Elem Klimlov. The film explores the heavy burden placed on young men sent to the army, expected to carry the weight of saving their country. Adam is their creative way of engaging with and imagining life within that world. Speelman explains that Come and See 'looks at the idea of boys going to war and being excited about the idea of becoming men and then being utterly terrorised, disenchanted and disillusioned by that idea of masculinity. More recently, in March 2025, Adolescence, the Netflix original series, sparked much-needed conversations around hyper-masculinity and male rage. Speaking to Speelman about the series, he points to Andrew Tate, one of the most infamous influencers known for promoting misogynistic content. 'Andrew Tate has become this beacon of fiery strong men, but it's a false archetype, a false god. 'With the rise of Andrew Tate, there's this anger that's fostered within a lot of young men because there's an element where a lot of their identity was grounded on this old idea of what a man is. 'The man essentially is the ketch of the household, he's the breadwinner but when a lot of those ideas are challenged, where now you're not the breadwinner and you feel like you're not needed, you feel left out and I think that's where there's this growing rage that I've been watching is simmering.' Talking about race Race is a subtle but important theme in the film, reflecting the directors' perspectives as men of colour. Through characters like Liam and Davey, the film highlights the experience of a boy of colour in a mostly white farm school. Although Adam isn't a man of colour, his close relationship with Liam, built on shared struggles with harsh punishments, allows the story to explore how race intersects with power and belonging. Dillon Windvogel as Liam. Speelman explains that 'the racial bodies in the film become that bridge within South African society of creating a friendship. But also [help us] truly understand one another to essentially move forward as one union.' Adam may not have visual components as strong as those in Adolescence and Moffie, but its stripped-down aesthetic is a memorable component of the film. It also taps into a deeper sense of stillness, which Speelman says was intentional. His reasoning behind some inert moments in the film is that 'a lot of emotions, especially through cinema, sometimes are rushed through. I think the type of cinema that I gravitate towards is very arthouse. Within that arthouse, you have to sit within the uncomfortability, and that is where the lessons stick a lot more.' Cinematographer Gray Kotze creates an intimate relationship between the viewer and the characters, and with an eye for documentary, he was able to immerse the viewers in Adam's world. DM
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
How millennial mothers are redefining financial management
Explore how millennial mothers are transforming their financial strategies amidst rising living costs, utilising fintech tools to ensure their families thrive. With 64% of millennials now parents, and the majority being women, it's worth unpacking the unseen financial load they carry, says Robyn Edwards, senior brand and marketing manager at digital financial services provider Finchoice. According to Edwards, millennial moms are not just caregivers—they are financial strategists, navigating rising living costs, childcare expenses, and household budgets while using fintech tools to stay ahead. Unlike previous generations, millennial moms are working more, spending more time with their children, and often balancing additional responsibilities such as caring for elderly parents. They are deeply intentional about their financial decisions, ensuring their families thrive despite economic pressures. "Our data shows that family commitments, home improvements, and school fees are the top reasons moms make use of digital lending tools," says Edwards. These aren't frivolous spends, they are investments in stability and long-term growth. Robyn Speelman, marketing operations lead at Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) provider, PayJustNow, sees the same trend in their 2.6 million customer base. She says millennial moms are using flexible payment tools to meet their families' needs while staying financially responsible. Children's products rank as one of the top spending categories among female millennial users, followed closely by beauty. "Because yes, self-care is a necessity, not a luxury," says Speelman. Speelman notes that millennial women are deliberate about where and how they spend. Our 157% year-on-year growth in transaction values tells us they're finding value in spreading payments, shopping safely online, and choosing fintech providers and retail brands that understand their needs," she says. According to Edwards, millennial moms don't need financial advice, they need practical solutions that respect their time and reality. She highlights that digital disbursements to women increased by over 30% last year, a clear indication that tech-driven lending platforms are becoming essential tools for managing daily financial pressures. "Whether it's getting access to a tailored loan within 24 hours or using BNPL to make essential purchases more manageable, these platforms are changing the way women, and particularly mothers, engage with money," says Speelman. She says millennial mothers are not reckless spenders—they are financially resilient, using smart fintech solutions to bridge financial gaps and secure a better future for their families. This shift in financial habits marks a fundamental transformation in financial access—one that is flexible, inclusive, and built for the women who hold it all together, Speelman says. PERSONAL FINANCE
IOL News
22-04-2025
- General
- IOL News
Ocean View families left homeless after devastating fire
What was meant to be a weekend of religious observance turned into a nightmare for three Ocean View families when their house was partially gutted by a fire on Good Friday. Martha Speelman said she and her family had just arrived at church when a neighbour called to say there was a fire on their property. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ 'We rushed back immediately and found the two bungalows in the backyard already gone and the back room of the house engulfed in flames,' she said. She said the family could only watch as the fire tore through their home. 'There wasn't anything we could do,' she said. Speelman said everything in the two bungalows and the back bedroom was destroyed. She said the three families who lived in the house, including an eight-month-old baby, were all sleeping in one bedroom as most of the house has smoke and water damage. 'It is very cramped and not ideal,' she said. A fire on Good Friday partially destroyed the home of a Capricorn Road family. City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said the fire in Capricorn Road was reported at around 8:20am. He said crews from Kommetjie, Fish Hoek and Simon's Town were on the scene and firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze after 9am. Most of the house and two informal structures were destroyed, along with another informal structure in Aries Way, he said. 'No persons were injured and the cause is yet to be determined,' he said. Following the fire, Ocean View residents Vasco Vigis and Zelda Nieuwoudt put out a plea to the community for essential items such as building materials, baby formula and nappies, Marine Primary School uniforms, food, bedding and toiletries. For a full list of items needed, contact Vigis at 081 549 7097.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers discover unusual factor influencing bird divorce rate: 'Complex, non-linear relationship'
Kissing in the rain is a well-worn romantic movie trope, but it seems bird couplings can be curtailed if the heavens open up. A study published in the Journal of Animal Ecology — and summarized by Sydney's Macquarie University — has found that pair bonds among Seychelles warblers might be affected by environmental factors, with rainfall noted as one of the main reasons that mates "divorce." The research, conducted by a team of international academics, focused on birds found on Cousin Island in the Seychelles. The findings detailed how shifting global weather conditions are altering reproductive activity and harming conservation efforts. "We analyzed 16 years of data and found a complex, nonlinear relationship between rainfall patterns and divorce rates, with divorce being more likely during years of both low and high rainfall," the university's Frigg Speelman, who was involved in the research, said. "This relationship was notably influenced by an extreme climatic event — the 1997 El Niño-induced rainfall spike." According to Speelman, the study provides evidence that environmental conditions can impact the "stability of socially monogamous species." The Seychelles warbler is endemic to the Seychelles islands, and conservation efforts for the bird have already proved challenging. Increasingly unpredictable weather conditions could further impact the species' survival and reduce breeding activity. "This research not only enhances our understanding of animal behavior in the face of climate variability, but it also provides valuable insights that could inform conservation efforts for species vulnerable to the effects of climate change," Speelman said. Human-caused pollution is dramatically shifting global weather patterns. Heat-trapping gases cause temperatures to rise, and this increases the strength, length, and regularity of extreme weather events and also leads to large fluctuations in rainfall. According to the U.N. Development Programme, climate projections for the Seychelles indicate further irregular rainfall patterns. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Much of the precipitation is falling in sharp bursts, creating heavy flooding in the wet season, while imposing extended period of drought during the dry season," the organization said. BirdLife International lists the Seychelles warbler as "near threatened," with habitat destruction and the presence of introduced predators among the major risks it faces. The warblers can now add rising divorce rates because of unusual rainfall to the list of complications impacting their future survival. While monitoring and research of the species continues, there are things we can do to make a difference in the warblers' prospects, such as reducing the production of pollution that exacerbates fluctuating temperatures. No matter where you are in the world, taking steps to be more sustainable can be felt all over the globe. Whether it's investing in renewable energy or ditching your gas-guzzling car, these changes can have a profound impact on our planet — and help the Seychelles warbler thrive. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
