uCarmen eKhayelitsha - parliamentary statement (22 February 2005)uCarmen is a reinterpretation of the classic opera, set in Khayelitsha and sung in Xhosa. They follow in the steps of Charlize Theron who won an Oscar recently and the movie Yesterday which has been nominated for an Oscar this year. uCarmen is proving once again that South African film artists, like their musical and literary counterparts, are capable of producing truly world class art that speaks of the South African experience in all its rich diversity.
We must do more than merely salute these artists, we must help them reach even greater heights. The UDM believes that we could take a leaf from the book of the French, Canadian and other governments, which have directly invested in their domestic film industries to ensure that their voices can be heard throughout the world.
It is our firm believe that Yesterday and uCarmen represent but a small portion of the South African stories that are waiting to be told to a global audience. It is not just through our political and diplomatic efforts that we can share the lessons we have learnt with the world. Let us encourage our artists to also participate in spreading the South African story in their own eloquent way.
