5 days ago
Zikhona Bali taps into her great-grandmother's prowess in new film
'It's good to see everyone here, but Africans have eyes to see what the white people can't see.'
On the night of her birthday, the entertainment industry came out to watch her star in Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight alongside American-South African actress and director, Embeth Davidtz.
Draped in a yellow vintage-inspired dress, Zikhona Bali looked ready to get into her character, Sarah.
In the film, Sarah is the black maid who works for the Fuller family on their farm in Zimbabwe, which was Rhodesia at the time.
Set towards the end of the Bush War and at the height of political tensions between the white minority and black majority during the country's first free elections, the film captures the events of the time from the eyes of an 8-year-old white girl, Bobo, who finds great companionship from Sarah.
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Caught in between the two races, Sarah finds herself pushed to take a dignitary stand for her people while remaining loving and loyal to the Fuller family.
'The story is very relatable to everyone. The character of Sarah moved me because I believe there are a lot of Sarahs where we come from. We carry a bit of Sarah in us; my great-grandmother was a reference for me with her characteristics. I tapped a lot into my great-grandmother, who moved so powerfully, but quietly, who had so much resilience, was strong, but yet delicate. She didn't say much, she didn't speak a lot, but when she spoke, it was very deliberate, cutting and wise.'
She adds that her great-grandmother would have been immensely proud of her for telling this story.
'I'm happy for you, but are you going to return to school? When are you returning to school? Yeah, but I'm proud of you,' she imitates what she would've said.
In not-so-many words, Sarah uttered emotion and wisdom. This put her life at risk of being attacked and ambushed by ZANU and ZAPU political parties, which represented the black majority.
Speaking to Drum about why it is important for young people to not only watch the movie but the memoir it is based on by British-Zimbabwean author, Alexandra Fuller, which was published in 2001, Zikhona praises it for how it deals with different themes.
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'It deals with a lot of themes, such as loss and love and loss of identity, loss of land. It doesn't only speak to kids. It also speaks to us, grown folks, and it's very relatable. We've been kids before, and we've seen things. We've heard things. We've had our perspective. So the relatable link is that we've also been there. We've also been kids. And what I wish that people can take out of this film is a new or rather different perspective on our history as Africans.
'When I had a meeting with her (Embeth) and she told me about the story and the character, she advised me to read the book, and I read the book, and I sat on the book for a while. It's so difficult to read but very moving too. So it's a human story,' the former Diep City actress shares with Drum.
Reflecting on the experience of working with Embeth and the executive producers - Anele Mdoda, Frankie Du Toit and Trevor Noah, she says she loved every minute of it, despite how horrific and sad it was.
'I loved the nuances. I loved being directed by Embers. I loved the intentional visitation from the producers on set. I loved how Embert was so gentle with the story and yet very gentle with us as the past.'
The film is officially out in cinemas nationwide from Friday, 25 July 2025.
