A Story of Friendship, Acceptance and Loss

Growing up in an Afrikaans home meant that we grew up with stories. Stories from previous generations were passed down, or they were simply made up on the spur of the moment.

Whatever the case may be, there was always room for our imagination to take us to places where our reality never could.

Silas and the Polar Bear on Table Mountain is one of those stories that takes me back to my childhood. The characters come from stories that were told to me or that I heard from friends and, interestingly enough, that is what makes this storyline feel real to me.

Besides that, the film also deals with several themes, such as friendship, acceptance, adventure and, most importantly of all, loss.

The film follows Silas, a young boy whose grandmother suddenly dies, and he goes to Dreamland to find her. He is accompanied by his neighbour, Willemien, and together they make new, mystical friends. The film feels like a mixture of all the best films of the 80s and 90s, but it is based on Afrikaans mythology.

I am genuinely surprised by what the cast and crew have achieved with this film. It is not only the technical aspects that I enjoyed; the story also truly resonated with me.

I have also made friends under the most difficult circumstances and I also lost a grandparent when I was Silas’s age.

The way this film handled the theme of loss was beautiful. Children usually do not understand death in the same way that we do. Therefore, this story is not only a way for them to understand it, but it also tells them that when someone dies, it does not mean that the love is lost.

Incredible cast

I could go on and on about the story, but I want to pause for a moment to talk about the cast. Neels Claasen Jr. plays the role of Silas and he delivers an incredible performance. He is supported by Luna Coetser as Willemien and she steals every scene. They own the screen as if they have been in the industry for years.

They are supported by Antoinette Kellermann, Beer Adriaanse, Neil Sandilands, Daneel van der Walt, Frieda van den Heever and Brandon Daniels. Zandré Coetzer is the director and she has captured the beauty of Cape Town and the magic of Dreamland well. The film stems from an idea she had and it was written by Annie Klopper.

Magical moments

The film also has an excellent soundtrack. It feels magical and very South African. They also used practical effects and it is breathtaking. The polar bear moves effortlessly and it feels like something you would see in a dream.

I love the makeup, costumes and set designs; they take you into this fantasy world. It once again made me realise how beautiful pure imagination can be.

It is an Afrikaans family film that you should definitely watch. I do not think we have had one recently and it is truly suitable for all ages. Who knows, perhaps the film is exactly what you need to process loss or to find a little optimism during a difficult time.

It is truly magical and easily deserves 4 out of 5 stars.

– [email protected]