Marco Vorster plays the 18-year-old eponymous lead in "Adam".
Image: Supplied
Following its screening at the Joburg Film Festival recently, "Adam", a coming-of-age story, is now streaming on Showmax.
"Adam" presents a moving narrative centred around the life of a headstrong teenager navigating the strict confines of a militaristic farm school named Prinsloo Bush School, drawing in audiences with its explorative approach to themes of masculinity, belonging and societal expectations.
Up-and-coming actor Marko Vorster, known for his role as Francois in "Donkerbos", portrays Adam, a boy grappling with the narrow definitions of masculinity imposed by both his surroundings and influential figures, particularly his idealistic teacher, played by Dirk Stoltz of "7de Laan" fame.
The cast is further enriched by talented actors such as Inge Beckmann ("Wyfie"), Antoinette Louw ("Spinners") and Paul Strydom ("Reënboogrant" and "Spooksoeker").
Saftas nominee Inge Beckmann plays Adam's mom in the movie.
Image: Supplied
Written by Winford Collings and co-directed by Collings and Liyema Speelman, "Adam" finds its roots in the personal experiences of its creators.
The film’s script, over a decade in the making, matured alongside Collings himself.
"The opportunity found me at the right time. I’d gone down a completely different path to filmmaking, studying accounting and working across various industries, but when this opportunity came along, it was the right time," shared Collings.
"I don’t think I would’ve been ready to tell this story a decade ago. Because the film tells the story from the perspectives of both teenagers and adults, I needed to live life outside of the confines of boarding school and mature, to have a full understanding of the world. The script matured alongside me," he said.
Describing the film, Speelman remarked: "'Adam' is our take on a coming-of-age story, set in a strict, militaristic farm school. It follows a boy who’s placed into a system designed to shape him into a very narrow version of masculinity: tough, emotionless and obedient.
"His teacher is the force behind that system, but Adam resists and that resistance comes at a cost. For me, 'Adam' is about the weight of those inherited narratives and the courage it takes to step outside of them and define yourself on your own terms."
Both Collings and Speelman hope viewers take away a message of self-discovery.
Collings said: "At its core, 'Adam' is a family drama, and I think that’s what helps it resonate. While Adam is our throughline, the story is filled with characters and dynamics that feel familiar. People recognise parts of their own families in it.
"The common refrain we’ve heard is, 'We all know an Adam', but what draws viewers in is the range of relationships around him: his bond with his mom, the tension with his stepdad, his friendships. Everyone finds a way in, a touchpoint that feels personal."
Speelman added, "I think stories like this hold up a mirror. They remind us of our own struggles and say, 'Yes, it’s hard - but keep going. There’s something on the other side of it'.
"Especially in this time, where we as men are slowly rediscovering what it means to be a man in society. This film also speaks to that, and it asks the questions, 'How do we create our own path? What is masculinity to us?'
"In conversations with friends, I find the same recurring theme, with everyone asking what it is to be a man now. 'Adam' is one of those pieces where it looks into that and leaves you with the puzzle pieces to figure that out for yourself."
A scene from "Adam".
Image: Supplied
For Vorster, stepping into the shoes of Adam Coetzee offered a profound yet heavy challenge. It was also the first time he had played a lead in a film.
"Roles like Adam are heavy on the body and the mind, and they take time to be fully unloaded," said Vorster.
He shared insights into the preparation needed for the role, including spending time listening to music and immersing himself in films that inspired the emotional landscape of the character he was bringing to life.
"On my way to set, I would listen to eerie orchestral music while running my lines. Winford had also sent me a list of films to watch before we started shooting, which aided in finding a presence for Adam that we both wanted to put on the screen. 'Come and See' (1985) and 'Stropers' (2018) were two of the films that came up the most in this dialogue."
"Adam asks viewers to participate in much-needed conversations about South Africa today,” Vorster notes, questioning the societal perceptions of masculinity.
"When you think of a South African man, what do you think of? And is this the men you want the boys of today to become?"
Watch the trailer below.