FILM O CLOCK Presents: How Long (1976)

The Bioscope is proud to participate in Film O Clock, a global film festival with 11 other countries where special screenings will take place at the exact same time. This will be an afternoon of short film sessions on Sat 18 April followed by a live discussion we will all tune in for. Then every year a classic film will be celebrated with screenings in all of the host countries. This year it's the 25th anniversary of the Romanian New Wave film Stuff and Dough. Each country is then encouraged to honour their own cinema history with a screening of a local classic film. For us, we chose the recently restored Gibson Kente classic How Long.

SEE THE FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAM HERE

How Long? (1976)

Directed by Gibson Kente. Dur 1hr 23mins.

Set in apartheid South Africa, How Long? is a bold and emotionally charged township musical adapted from the banned stage play by legendary playwright Gibson Kente. The story follows Khulu, a resilient grandmother whose family is torn apart by a vindictive local policeman, turning personal tragedy into a powerful symbol of life under apartheid. Despite its dark themes, the film sparkles with Kente’s signature humour and musical satire, blending spirited songs and sharp comedy that highlight resilience and the enduring human spirit.
To evade the apartheid Censorship Board, production moved to King William’s Town, though Kente was arrested on the final day—a stark reminder of the risks artists took to tell the truth.