Private Project

Free State

A Neo-Western set in present day South Africa. A story about two brothers on the edge of society, who intercept stolen money from a foiled bank robbery. A psychopathic killer hunts them down for it in a downward spiral of deceit, decay and greed.

  • Robin Goode
    Director
    Commando
  • Daniel Levi
    Writer
  • Raffaella Della Donna
    Producer
    Khumba, Love Monster, G.I.L.
  • Conrad Kemp
    Key Cast
    "Joel"
    Zulu, Winnie, Sniper
  • Carel Nel
    Key Cast
    "Matthew"
    Gaia, The Endless River
  • Warrick Grier
    Key Cast
    "Bargeld"
  • Genna Galloway
    Key Cast
    "Susan"
  • Martin Safoor
    Key Cast
    "Traub"
  • Rea Segoati
    Key Cast
    "Detective Lebogang"
  • Brendon Daniels
    Key Cast
    "Detective Engelbrecht"
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 52 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 24, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    450,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    South Africa
  • Country of Filming:
    South Africa
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • WestEnd Films
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
Director Biography - Robin Goode

Robin Goode is an award-winning director, photographer, and artist from South Africa and brings his unique visual style and character-driven storytelling to the film world.

Robin is a fascinating talent, his imagery is breathtakingly beautiful, and yet it always feels entirely authentic and integrated into whatever story he is telling. He also has a tremendous ability to cast and work with actors to create honest and fully-realised characters - a unique talent for a poetic visualist. That combo of dazzling imagery and emotional performance is what draws people to his work.

Goode came to directing from the worlds of fine art and advertising. He earned multiple Cannes bronzes, a Cannes Silver, and South Africa's top advertising award, the Loerie Grand Prix; he exhibited his video art installations, sculptures, and photographic art projects throughout Italy and Spain; and published a book of photography exploring the power and poetry of grassroots football in Africa.

Goode’s directing work has earned multiple international awards and shows a breadth of experience that makes him as comfortable directing one person in a room as he is staging a car chase, or utilizing complex VFX.

Goode has expanded his creative reach into narrative filmmaking with two short films, The Visitor and Commando, and has recently finished his feature film Flesh and Blood. He has three projects currently in finance; The Elephant Whisperer, See Through Girl and Ka-Ching.

Robin is a writer and director.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Flesh and Blood is a character driven narrative that delves into moral dilemma of good and evil. A modern story with a Neo-Western lensing. Hard people living in a hard land.
I wanted to explore the ease with which one can take a wrong turn in life and destroy everything you love, everything you’ve worked for. A simple bad decision can turn your life inside out.
Flesh and Blood is a slow burner, a spatial film that explores the fragment relationship between two brothers and an inhospitable land that ultimately consumes them. A bond of blood, love and trust that is destroyed by greed. It is a Cane and Abel crime thriller set in a harsh rural landscape.
It is a story about outsiders, a Jewish family living in a small Christian town. The subtle religious overtones add to a foreboding element to the story - a promise of violence and karmic retribution.
The desolate land is integral to the spatial and singular quality of the film. A land that is not built for man. I wanted the rusty trains and the steel mills to blend into the story and make the context feel inhospitable. A land that devours its people, a land that rusts its children.
The opposing character arcs of the two brothers became the backbone of the narrative. The white knight becoming the villain and the dark knight becoming the victim. This diverging arc is an important aspect to the story and we navigated this fine line with the two actors throughout the filming. Adding subtle nuances and additional cues to steer the bait and switch. Creating the illusion of a hero that is not what he seems - a subtle subversion that creates a compelling arc.
The subtle supernatural element within the film explores the cautionary tale of dreams and visions, warning our characters of impending conflict.
The characters performances are dry, simple and understated. Little is given away. We have to pry information from them. They are as hard to crack as the land that surrounds them. The strange folk of the forgotten town seem to be locked in a time warp.
The cinematic style is classic and heavy. Lighting is authentic and evocative, masking the maker’s hand. The scenes never feel lit but are always compelling, they pull you into the story. The colour space is rich, warm and contrasting. A strong image rooted in classic cinema.