Beauty

François is a 40-year-old white man, living an ostensibly quiet life in Bloemfontein, South Africa. He is father to two girls, and a caring husband – until he meets 23-year-old Christian, the presentable son of an old friend of his, who stirs the homosexual passion in him, efficiently hidden for years on end in secretive meetings of anonymous sex. A filmic shower of emotions, “Skoonheid” focuses on the captivating story of an internal personal struggle, with an urban, religious environment in South Africa as its background. Oliver Hermanus outlines the portrait of a family man facing his deepest desire, going beyond all limits. A cinematic experience on homophobia and racism, this year’s Queer Palm of the Cannes Film Festival may touch on risky subjects but doesn’t hesitate to address taboo themes, far away from embellishments and didacticism, in the most realistic way.

Beauty - Ομορφιά by NyxtesPremieras

Original Title: Skoonheid

Director: Oliver Hermanus

Screenwriter: Oliver Hermanus Didier Costet

DoP: Jamie Ramsay

Music: Ben Ludik

Editor: George Hanmer

Principal Cast: Deon Lotz Charlie Keegan Michelle Scott Albert Maritz Sue Diepeveen Roeline Daneel

Country: South Africa, France

Year: 2010

Running Time: 99'

Language: Africaans, English