This week’s Spotlight episode features a bold new take on the classic story, The Color Purple, a thrilling new Jason Statham action film and a local crime drama streaming on Netflix.

AT CINEMAS: THE COLOR PURPLE

The movie is produced by industry giants Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones, and directed by Grammy-nominated Ghanaian director Blitz Bazawule. The film leads into Black History month in February, and stars singing sensation Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey, Taraji P Henson and Colman Domingo in the well-known story of extraordinary strength and hope wrapped in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. Spotlight attended the advance screening event honouring and celebrating powerful South African woman in business this past week.

AT CINEMAS (and IMAX): THE BEEKEEPER

An exhilarating action thriller about a brutal campaign for vengeance in which the protagonist is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful organisation known as “Beekeepers”. Directed by veteran action director David Ayer (Suicide Squad, End of Watch, Street Kings, Fury), Jason Statham leads the cast, with Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons and Emmy Raver-Lampman supporting. 

STREAMING ON NETFLIX: SOON COMES NIGHT

A new local six-part crime drama, Soon Comes Night, stars Kwenzo Ngcobo, Albert Pretorius and Gaosi Raditholo in a story that takes us back to the apartheid era. The lives of detective Sakkie Oosthuizen and liberation hero-turned-heist-king Alex Shabane intertwine, blurring the lines between good and bad. Based on real events, the series focuses on the complexity of the old and new South Africa, and a place where freedom is never really free. It is helmed by award-winning directors Sanele Zulu (Losing Lerato, Single Guys) and Thabang Moleya (Gomora, The Herd, Happiness is a Four-Letter Word).

BOOK YOUR CINEMA TICKETS

Visit sterkinekor.com and numetro.co.za.

COMPETITION:

Spotlight has The Color Purple movie merchandise hampers up for grabs this week. For full competition details and questions, head over to Spotlight South Africa on Facebook. T's and C’s apply. The competition closes on February 1 2024.