The Lucky Specials is a 2017 South African musical romantic drama film directed by Reabetswe Rangaka and co-produced by Harriet Gavshon, Peter Gudo, Aric Noboa, and J.P. Potgieter for Discovery Learning Alliance and Quizzical Pictures in association with HHMI Tangled Bank Studios.[1] The film stars Oros Mampofu and Sivenathi Mabuya with Blondia Makhene, Richard Lukunku, and Fulu Mugovhani in supporting roles.[2] The film is about a cover band called "The Lucky Specials" in a dusty town in southern Africa where Mandla, a miner by profession plays lead guitar but later problems arise with Nkanyiso, a fellow band member.[3][4][5]

The Lucky Specials
Directed byReabetswe Rangaka
Written byNonzi Bogatsu
Tim Greene
Story byLungelo Mdlalose
Tim Greene
Produced byHarriet Gavshon
Peter Gudo
Aric Noboa
J.P. Potgieter
StarringOros Mampofu
Sivenathi Mabuya
Blondia Makhene
Richard Lukunku
Fulu Mugovhani
CinematographyTom Marais
Edited byMelanie Jankes Golden
Music byBrendan Jury
Production
companies
HHMI Tangled Bank Studios
Quizzical Pictures
Nigma Pictures
Distributed byAAA Entertainment
Release date
  • 17 February 2017 (2017-02-17)
Running time
108 minutes
CountrySouth Africa
LanguageEnglish

The film has been shot in and around South Africa and Mozambique.[citation needed]

Reception

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The film premiered on 17 February 2017 at MonteCasino in Johannesburg, South Africa. The film received positive reviews from critics and selected for 12 international film festivals.[6][7][8] The film also won Special Jury Recognition at the 2012 Pan African Film Festival and was honored with the Zuku Award for Best African Film at the 2012 Zanzibar International Film Festival.[9] In 2018 at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, the film was nominated for five awards: Best Actress in a leading role, Best Actor in a leading role, Best Actor in a supporting role, Best Visual Effects and Best Editing. Meanwhile, in the same year, the film was nominated for the Best Made for TV Movie at the Golden Horn Awards.[3] It was screened throughout the world in helping communities respond to tuberculosis.[10]

Cast

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  • Oros Mampofu as Mandla
  • Sivenathi Mabuya as Nkanyiso
  • Blondie Makhene as Bra Easy
  • Richard Lukunku as Jose
  • Thomas Gumede as Sello
  • Fulu Mugovhani as Zwanga
  • Linda Sebezo as businesswoman

References

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  1. ^ "The Lucky Specials: Tangled Bank Studios". www.tangledbankstudios.org. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  2. ^ "The Lucky Specials: Netflix". www.netflix.com. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b "The Lucky Specials: International Organization for Migration". www.iom.int. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  4. ^ "The Lucky Specials". Radio Times. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  5. ^ "FILM REVIEW: 'The Lucky Specials' highlights cost of negligence". Kenya. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  6. ^ "THE LUCKY SPECIALS". Toronto Black Film Festival. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  7. ^ "TV3 Airs New Movie THE LUCKY SPECIALS, a Sensational Musical Journey with a Powerful Message: Tangled Bank Studios". www.tangledbankstudios.org. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  8. ^ "New Movie "The Lucky Specials" Delivers a Powerful Public Health Message in Advance of TB Day | Management Sciences for Health". www.msh.org. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  9. ^ "New Movie "The Lucky Specials," Delivers a Sensational Musical Journey with a Powerful Message | Press Release | Southern Africa Regional | U.S. Agency for International Development". www.usaid.gov. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  10. ^ "New Movie THE LUCKY SPECIALS Delivers a Sensational, Musical Journey with a Powerful Public Health Message about Tuberculosis in Advance of World TB Day: Tangled Bank Studios". www.tangledbankstudios.org. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
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