Poena Is Koning Explained

Director:Willie Esterhuizen
Starring:Robbie Wessels
Gerhard Odendaal
Perlé van Schalkwyk
Lizz Meiring
Wim Botes
Liandi Grobler
Cinematography:André van den Heever
Editing:Pieter Esterhuizen
Music:Toby Esterhuizen
Robbie Wessels[1]
Studio:Aardbol Films
Distributor:Ster-Kinekor
Country:South Africa
Language:Afrikaans
Screenplay:Willie Esterhuizen
Runtime:85 mins

Poena is Koning (lit. Poena is King) is a South African Afrikaans-language sex comedy film released on 21 September 2007. It was directed by Willie Esterhuizen.

Plot

The film follows the sexual awakening of Poena Pieterse (Robbie Wessels) and his best friend, Vaatjie (Gerhard Odendaal), both of whom are determined to lose their virginity before finishing school.[2]

Release and reception

Poena is Koning was released in South Africa on 21 September 2007, in both Afrikaans and English-subtitled versions.[3] Between its first and second weekend of release, the film's attendance increased by 5.7% and box office earnings per site increased by 12%. By August 2008, the film had grossed R2,446,025.[4] In a 2008 interview, Esterhuizen described Poena is Koning as "a humorous ethnic minority film that appealed to the movie-going ethnic minority it was meant for."[5]

The South African news website Independent Online awarded the film one star and described it as "what seems to be an attempt to make an Afrikaans American Pie".[6] The film is considered one of the most representative films in Esterhuizen's body of work, having been "elevated to public property in Afrikaans circles that devour his film contributions with gusto, due to its crude and hearty humour."[7] According to academic Chris Broodryk, Poena is Koning draws on American influences such as Porky’s (1981) and Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) but nevertheless follows a common theme in the director's body of work, by equating the quest for sexual intercourse with post-apartheid white masculinity.

Spinoffs and sequels

The film's financial success led to a 2008 spin-off Vaatjie Sien sy Gat, in which Gerhard Odendaal reprised his role as Vaatjie. Wessels reprised his role as Poena Pieterse in two television films, Poena (2020) and Poena en Poenie (2021).[8] A television series, Poena, first aired on kykNET on 4 April 2022.

Cast

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Poena is koning . 2 April 2010 . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222031638/http://www.moviesite.co.za/2007/0921/poena_is_koning.html . 22 December 2017 . live . dmy-all .
  2. Broodryk . Chris W. . 2013 . The cinema of Willie Esterhuizen: the quest for sex and hegemonic masculinity . Image & Text . 22 . 1 . 6–26.
  3. Web site: De Waal . Shaun . 2007-10-09 . Gat is koning . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230303205254/https://thoughtleader.co.za/gat-koning/ . 2023-03-03 . 2023-03-03 . . en-US.
  4. Book: Botha, Martin . South African cinema 1896-2010 . Intellect . 2012 . 978-1-84150-458-2 . Bristol, UK . 191 . en.
  5. Web site: Dercksen . Daniel . 2008 . Conversations . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120207040438/http://writingstudio.co.za/page1632.html . 7 Feb 2012 . The Writing Studio.
  6. Web site: 21 September 2007 . Movie Review - Poena Is Koning . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217025235/https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/tv/movie-review-poena-is-koning-952935 . 17 February 2023 . 3 March 2023 . Independent Online.
  7. Web site: Import . Pongrass . 2014-01-21 . A rare journey for South African cinema . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230304083838/https://fourwaysreview.co.za/165667/a-rare-journey-for-south-african-cinema/ . 2023-03-04 . 2023-02-14 . Fourways Review . en-US.
  8. Web site: Engelbrecht . Renate . 25 February 2022 . Get ready for more belly laughs as 'Poena' launches his very own series . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217042922/https://www.citizen.co.za/entertainment/tv/poena-returns-to-tellie-with-own-series/ . 17 February 2023 . 3 March 2023 . . en.