Experiencing Interruptions?

Flower of the Partisan


"During the assassin Tsafendas’ years of solitary, it becomes clear that he is suffering for a futile act. Killing the "Architect" of apartheid did not lead to its end but its strengthening. Then a difficult maths problem distracts him. He remembers stories and music. Somewhere in his imaginary world, he finds faith that justice will overcome."

Flower of the Partisan is about the assassin of Hendrik Verwoerd, Dimitri Tsafendas. It's an imagined biography of the life of Tsafendas' mind during solitary confinement. Our film is a meditation on the futility of violence. Whether it is used to liberate or oppress, violence traps its users into labyrinths of violence from which we struggle to escape. At the heart of that labyrinth are human souls desperate to be free, joyous and creative.

  • Charles Badenhorst
    Director
    Ruby and Roach; Winternag; What about the law?; Groet; Spirit Doll;
  • Catherine Rose Sofianos
    Writer
    Ukhamba Stars, Londie and the Space Rangers
  • Catherine Sofianos
    Producer
    Ukhamba Stars; Londie and the Space Rangers
  • Renos Nicos Spanoudes
    Key Cast
    "Dimitri Tsafendas"
    Strangeland
  • Leslie Javan
    Music
    Spirit Doll
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 23 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 31, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    24,490 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    South Africa
  • Country of Filming:
    South Africa
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Hollywood Short Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    February 25, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Tokyo International Short Film Festival
    Tokyo
    Japan
    February 4, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Dubai Film Festival
    Dubai
    United Arab Emirates
    January 9, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Art Film Awards
    Skopje
    December 23, 2023
    Best Animated Film
  • Brussels Capital Film Festival
    Brussels
    Belgium
    December 10, 2023
    Best Animated Film
  • Bucharest ShortCut Cinefest
    Bucharest
    Romania
    January 27, 2024
Director Biography - Charles Badenhorst

Director, Animator, Sound Designer and Musician
Over the last 15 years as Bittervrug Productions and before that part of Fopspeen Moving Pictures, Charles Badenhorst has worked as animation director, D.O.P, animator and sound designer on various award-winning short films. In his individual capacity he has directed and animated two poetry-films which have won awards nationally and internationally.

Awards:

As part of the Ruby and Roach team: Sound design

WINNER Best South African Short Film 2020 (Durban International Film Festival)
WINNER Best African Short Film 2020 (Durban International Film Festival)
WINNER Best Children Film (Tbilisi International Animation Festival (TIAF) 2020)
WINNER Best Music Video/Music Films award (Blu-Hill Film Festival Season 3, 2021)

"What abou de lo?"-Director, design and animation

WINNER Jury Prize at the First Weimar Poetry Film Festival, Germany, 2016
WINNER Special Jury Prize, Festival Silencio, Lisbon, Portugal, 2016
WINNER Best Experimental Film, Indie Karoo Film Festival, 2017

“Groet/Greeting” - Director, design and animation

WINNER Best Animation, Kasi Vibe Film Festival, Gauteng 2017

As part of Fopspeen

"Please frog, just one sip!"-Director of Animation, Animation, Sound design.

WINNER Special Prize at Hiroshima Animation Film Festival2018, Japan,.


"Little Birds ABC"-Director of Animation, Animation, Sound design.

WINNER Best Animated Film for Children, KROK Festival Ukraine, 2009
WINNER Best Animation for Children, Tehran International Animation Festival Iran, 2009
WINNER Best Animation for Children ,Tindirindis International Animation Festival Lithuania, 2010

"AGENDA"-Director of Animation, Animation, Sound design.

WINNER SAFTA Award, Best Animation in a Short Film, 2009

"The Finer Things"-Director of Animation, Animation, Sound design.

WINNER Best Short Form Audiovisual Entertainment made for Mobile and Internet; Factual. Mipcom, 2007

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

In a world where superheroes dominate our screens, the Flower of the Partisan explores the sacrifice and love of someone driven by the ideals of heroism. Dimitri Tsafendas is famous for being the assassin of Hendrik Verwoerd, the architect of the South African policy of apartheid. Tsafendas believed it was his moral duty to do whatever was in his power to end apartheid. Thinking that if he slays Verwoerd, apartheid will fall, he takes Verwoerd's life, then watches in horror as another tyrant emerges.

Tsafendas endures solitary confinement and torture for 23 years. Despite all this, Tsafendas does not lose himself completely, and after everything is able to recover his joy. Accompanying him is the ghost in his heart, Elenitsa. She is the compilation of his memories of love and gives him strength to endure.

Directed by award-winning independent animator Charles Badenhorst and written and produced by Catherine Sofianos. Tsafendas is portrayed by the celebrated and decorated veteran actor Renos Spanoudes and written and produced by Catherine Sofianos. Score by Leslie Javan.