Death is a heavy subject matter to tackle in a film, especially for a directorial debut feature.
But Quanita Adams has not only taken on the challenge with “Hier.Na” (Hereafter), which premiered at the 12th kykNET Silwerskerm Festival a few months back, but she pulled it off with aplomb.
It also took home the honours for Best Cinematography in a Feature Film - Ebrahim Hajee, Best Costumes in a Feature Film - Ayesha Khatieb, Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film - Trudy van Rooy and Best Actress in a Feature Film June van Merch, at the kykNET Silwerskerm Awards for Film and TV.
Aside from the cultural insight into the practices of a close-knit Muslim community in Cape Town, she enlightens viewers about an Islamic burial (Janazah), which is conducted within 24 hours, and she does so with humour, empathy and deep reflection.
Now Adams is lauded for her screen and theatre work. With notable performances in “Sara Se Geheim”, “Susters”, “The Riviera”, “Binnelanders”, “Barakat” and “Arendsvlei”, to mention a few, she has proven herself as adept in front of the camera as she is behind it.
And her writing credits are a testament to her versatility.
Adams revealed she was inspired by her own father’s Janazah when it came to penning the script for “Hier.Na”
In an interview, she shared: “‘Hier.Na’ is a reflection on my own father’s Janazah. Within the Muslim religion, we have to bury our dead on the same day they passed, before sunset.
“On the same day, before the sun goes down, there are hundreds of people in your home, and there’s food everywhere and things move so quickly.
“Having grown up in the Muslim community, I have attended many Janazahs, but when it is one of your immediate family members, you get a new perspective on funerals, grief, family, and the way we hold each other in these moments.
“The Muslim burial with its cultural practices is such a well-oiled machine, and I wanted the movie to speak to all the aspects of what it means to be involved in a Muslim burial, from all the complicated stuff, all the challenging stuff, to the things that make it beautiful, unique and quite special.
“As a reflection on my father’s funeral, it was also an opportunity for me to unpack my thoughts, ideas and feelings around not just death, but specifically the way funerals are observed within my community.”
Her vision is fulfilled through the exceptional cast delivering on the nuances of their respective grieving characters.
The film opens on a light-hearted note in the Burgess family household.
Juleigha (Adams), who prefers to be called Julie, is a non-practising Muslim married to Eric (David Isaacs), who is non-religious.
Excited for an upcoming milestone birthday party, Julie bends Eric’s ear with her plans. He happily goes along with her wishes.
Right from the outset, their love for each other is evident.
Their daughter Leila (Shiefaa Hendricks), a medical student, is reconnecting with her Muslim faith and is being guided by her staunch maternal grandmother (played by Van Merch). However, their professional gamer son Dean (Lyle October) is indifferent to family matters.
It’s a typical rushed morning for the family. Julie is trying to complete last-minute chores while tending to her family. Her mother’s arrival is met with a bit of trepidation as she is known for her meddling not to mention her nagging about their gate as it doesn’t fully open.
The frame switches from joyful to heartbreaking when Eric and his children are informed of Julie’s passing from a heart attack.
While Eric and Dean are too shocked to comprehend the next steps of what needs to be done, Leila steps up and takes control of the situation with the help of her grandmother and uncle, Fikkie (Emile Smit).
With little time to waste, the preparations get underway for the arrival of the body at home. In the meantime, family and close friends arrive at their residence to pay their respects and help with the food preparation.
The unfolding manic atmosphere is punctuated by moments of anger, confusion, frustration and deep reflection. Adams underpins the narrative with drama stemming from family disagreements and petty squabbles born from past issues.
She also includes scenes with the haughty neighbours raising hell over the increased traffic and noise, unaware of what had happened.
I cannot sing the praises of Adams enough. Aside from making an impactful directorial debut, she left viewers moist-eyed and enlightened at the same time.
She achieved her objective of sharing a poignant tale of the impact of death through the lens of a Muslim family.
Her story communicates the wide gamut of emotions that come with trying to find closure while saying goodbye to a loved one.
She handles it with commendable sensitivity and gravitas.
She also deserves praise for the casting. Each actor brought an interesting dynamic to the storyline through their character’s compelling journey.
Although the story centres on death, it also shows the positive aspect of it with family putting aside their differences and supporting one another through the difficult time.
"Hier.Na" is an unforgettable film with powerful performances and masterful direction.
∎“Hier.Na” is available on DStv BoxOffice.Film