Encounters 2021: The Khoekhoe Saga

Every year since our founding in 2010, The Bioscope has proudly hosted screenings of The Encounters Documentary Film Festival. Always a highlight in our calendar, the festival returns this year with limited physical screenings at The Bioscope from 11-20 June. Tickets are R70. For more information on the festival as a whole, please visit encounters.co.za

THE KHOEKHOE SAGA

Directed by: Johann Abrahams. (South Africa). Dur: 1h 7 mins.

In 1810, indigenous Khoekhoe woman Sara Baartman was taken from Southern Africa and paraded on European stages as part of a freakshow. Only in 2002 were her remains brought back from Paris and buried in her ancestral home. Baartman’s return became a catalyst for the revival of Khoekhoean dignity and pride and the rebirth of Khoekhoean identity. This fascinating film brings a fresh perspective and a new narrative to the Khoekhoe herders of South Africa, exploring the territories and historical events surrounding various breakaway groups such as the Hessequas, the Namaquas, and the Griquas, and interviewing their descendants. Using oral and archeological records, and re-examining old European diaries and reports for hints of the truth, the film rewrites the history of Southern and South Africa, deeply enriching the historical framework before 1652 and the arrival of Jan Van Riebeeck. 

COVID POLICY AND PROCEDURE.

The new Bioscope location is set to be a 47 seater cinema. We are however selling far less in order for there to be space to sit apart from other members of the public. We ask you to please keep your mask on the entire time within the cinema premises. Drinks and snacks will be on sale and can be consumed during the film, but please consider those around you when your mask is off for this. 44 Stanley is largely an open air shopping centre, and The Bioscope has a great outside space directly outside the cinema that public can make use of. Within the cinema, we will also make use of temperature reading, air filtering, and constant cleaning to make sure that The Bioscope remains a safe and hygienic experience.

After purchasing tickets, if you experience any COVID related symptoms, or come into contact with anyone who has tested positive, we ask you to please not attend the screening. Please understand that The Bioscope will not be able to refund you this ticket. We are happy however for you to give your ticket to someone else that can attend. If this is not possible, we would be happy to exchange your ticket for a future screening/event. This can all be coordinated via email at [email protected]