Experiencing Interruptions?

Year Plan

MONDE (39) unromantic married male to THEMBI who's been worried about her husband's lack of romance. Eventually, he comes to his senses after having had aa chat with his best friend, MY_G. His wife's new desires to explore romantic-life trigger this fear of loss.

The story revolves around MONDE COLA, who after all the loyalty his wife had given into their marriage walks out and starts cheating on her. Being married for two years. His wife THEMBI COLA (32), requests they do something different to spark up their romance life.

MONDE grew up and has only known one romantic partner in his entire life in THEMBI COLA but got torn away by his new experiences when they started new things. The influence of his friend MY_G, to spice things up has gone over his head. Her (THEMBI) friend SIZEKA an outgoing spirited lady and colleague pushes her to experience these life luxuries with or without her husband. THEMBI refuses her friend's advice and chooses to be loyal to her marriage, when in fact her husband is...

He (MONDE) consults his childhood friend MY_G; whom he trusted to this day about the sudden change of heart to his wife. at the end of the story, he becomes the most loving husband and partner to KHANYISA. Year Plan, is a metaphoric planning to his ill-behaviors driven by interest to explore what he missed together, bringing back old spark of romance. In the process finds himself (MONDE) a new job. With his new job and better pay cheque, will MONDE and KHANYISA get caught up in the middle with the two men she's seeing. MONDE, now a cheating husband trying to make her life easier and perfectly balanced?

  • Sanele Sanz Nyembezi
    Director
  • Sanele Sanz Nyembezi
    Writer
  • Asekhona Mnxila
    Key Cast
    "MONDE"
  • Sinothando Kobe
    Key Cast
    "KHANYISA"
  • Lisakhanya Fente
    Key Cast
    "SIZEKA"
  • Anita Ngxwalane
    Key Cast
    "THEMBI"
  • Inga Nyembezi
    Key Cast
    "BONGA"
  • Linda Mtwetwe
    Key Cast
    "MY-G"
  • Sanele Sanz Nyembezi
    Key Cast
    "Sanz"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Television
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes 18 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 12, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    589 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    South Africa
  • Country of Filming:
    South Africa
  • Language:
    Xhosa
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, 35mm, Canon
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - College Of Cape Town
  • Kraaifontein community screening
    Cape Town
    South Africa
    December 2, 2023
    Self-Screening for the community
    Self-Screening for the community
Director Biography - Sanele Sanz Nyembezi

Sanele "Sanz" Nyembezi is self-taught scriptwriter and director.

Currently Studying Travel and Tourism (NVC 4) at the College of Cape Town.

Founding director of 4th Son Film.

Year Plan is the first project to direct and complete filming with as many other scripts yet to be produced.

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Director Statement

No one is ever encouraged to question culture, customs and traditions. This is true to most societies and the case is no different for African women. YEAR PLAN is a brave look into, specifically, the Xhosa customary practices around marriage for young couple in the town of KRAAIFONTEIN. Like all people of Xhosa tribe, marriage concerns more than just the two people saying, "I do". Marriage is a unification of two bloodlines, two different systems of belief and culture, based on the clan one comes from. These ideologies, carry into gender roles and power each gender gets to enjoy based on age and financial/material stability.

For the peoples within the Xhosa tribe, the wealth and health of a man is seen through his kraal. This translates to the number of a man's livestock and the yield of his fields are his wealth. All this is based on the ancient Xhosa tribal community. A man is of no value to his family and community if he cannot provide. The ability to do that is tested by the custom of being the breadwinner to his wife as well as his own background.

In today's world, a man's wealth is his bank balance. For today's man, in today's economy, affording the customary beneficiations can be impossible to achieve. Similarly, because society and marriage include the woman, our heroin faces her own pressures. Her age and validity as a woman come into question, because her suitor has not yet made an honest living. Moreover, they haven't experienced nor explored romantic experiences as a couple.

She battles for her place and value within the ranks of womanhood, which is diminished by her husband and stigmatization of material status. Through it all, her husband makes it and chooses to treat other women as she has been pleading him. YEAR PLAN follows our lovers as they succumb to pressures that have hundreds of years' worth weight behind them. We watch as they rise and fall looking in shock, awe and wonder and at how their story ends.