Free State

I am on my way home to start the life I always believed I wanted.

I just finished my law degree at Wits University...

...in Johannesburg, South Africa.

I grew up in a tiny village surrounded by the foothill of the Drakensberg

Memel

On the border of the Free State and Natal provinces of South Africa.

My mother passed away when I was a child.

Her passing away was a massive setback to my father

and he has not made his peace with God for losing her.

He is the local reverend.

Thus, for most of my childhood...

Maria, our Zulu maid, raised me.

The learning of my father

the wisdom of Maria prompted me to embark upon higher education.

Being at university also meant being closer to my high school sweetheart.

...Christoff.

Soon after graduating from medical school...

he was called up to report for his two-year military service.

Growing up in Memel...

I was a political innocent.

As a child, one evening,

I witnessed the violent arrest of polite Indian

who explained that he simply ran out of gas.

I was told no Indians were allowed in Free State after dark.

I didn't believe that

he must have been involved in something else.

Later, as a law student...

I learned that it was, in fact, the law.

One of many cruel laws.

It was also a crime

for a white person to have an intimate relationship

with a non-white person.

South Africans were formally classified

according to the color of their skin

and a legal wall was erected...

which could only be crossed at pains

of punishment and social scandal.

So, I have come to doubt

the values of the people

amongst whom I so happily spent my entire life.

But it is 1979.

A new decade is dawning...

maybe change

hopefully a new beginning.

for Now

I'm going home to Memel.

Life is simple there.

I'm not going to practice anyway.

Christoff and I will marry as soon as he finally finishes his military service.

Please, Jeanette, you can't be serious!

What a waste. You're a top law student.

I want to be loved.

Careers, the law, everything else...

besides, Christoff is a doctor, I don't need to work.

A housewife, really?

god's sake, it's the seventies, women can do whatever we want

and you choose to be a housewife.

Exactly, I choose.

And it's not that I want to be a housewife,

I want a family,

I want to be loved and

I want to be a mother and for that, I'll make the sacrifice.

You haven't seen him for - what has it been now? A year.

I'v e been on dates with a few men...

Come on, guys, seriously!

I've been on dates with a few men that have returned from Angola,

and I can tell you this much;

you don't know what you're gonna get.

When last did you receive a letter from him?

Just keep your options open;

I think you're more in love with the idea of this fellow.

Maybe. But I'm not married to him yet.

There are plenty of fish in the sea.

Okay....

Okay, this is me. Back to the Free State.

If you change your mind, let me know. We can get a flat.

But you're not.

Promise me you're not going to become an old biddy in six months,

baking pastries at National Party meetings.

I think you know me better than that.

Take care. Please write.

But always remember...

Rock the boat!

Alright, gentlemen, let's finish this over. I have to run.

Two balls left, one wicket, six runs - let's do this!

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Yeah!

Every dog gets his day.

You were brave enough to go for the win.

I respect that.

Bye, Ravi!

See you later.

Everyone's waiting for you. Again.

Oh shit!

Satish!

Look sir, I can explain...

I can explain... I'm sorry.

We'll deal with him later. Lock the door.

We can't be late for your sister's engagement.

We have to renegotiate the dowry.

Don’t start. They are Kshatriyas, we are Vaisyas.

He is marrying down in cost, okay?

I don't want to hear about this again; that's how it works.

Really, mom?

He's getting married soon

he's not a baby anymore.

You'll always be my babies.

You look very handsome. She's a lucky lady.

Will you still be able to do the delivery in Vrede after the meeting?

You'll have your van back on Monday.

You can borrow my car while we're gone.

When are you gonna stop this nonsense?

It's dangerous.

What if they catch you?

I don't want to read about my sister

"jumping" out of the fourth floor window

from a police building in Joburg or PE.

Without action, you aren't going anywhere.

Gandhi. Smart man.

They'll be here soon.

Ravi's a good man.

I want to see your sister happy,

I want her to have everything of the best, don't you?

Yes

But the dowry's too much. We can't afford it.

I can't see why we would risk going out of business

just to uphold a fucking caste system.

Listen, have some respect.

It's important to me and it was important to your mother.

This is your sister's future.

This is her fourth engagement. This one has to work.

you understand?

Her happiness depends on it.

For me,

my children's happiness means everything.

That's why I worked all my life.

But you're still young.

One day when God blesses you with children,

then you'll understand

hmm? Come, let's get dressed.

Sir...

Jeanette phoned from a payphone, she's in Heidelberg.

Thank you, Maria.

Well, she should be here way before nightfall then.

can't wait to see her, is her room ready?

Yes, it's perfect,

I've cleaned all the family photos

they in a box, in a study.

Thank you, Maria. What will I ever do without you?

The date is set, just the dowry's left now.

Well Sahil and I, we've agreed on the amount.

Because they are Kshatriyas, the amount is a bit more than usual,

for Ravi is marrying down in caste.

Is that correct, Sahil?

Will you steal from our shop again?

What?

Please, I won't steal from your shop again.

Good boy.

Next time you steal from me, that doorway will be the last thing you see.

Are you okay?

I don't know.

Oh shit, I took the spare out to make space.

Where are you going?

Home... Home, Memel.

I can give you a ride, but I have to make a delivery first,

I have to be back in Natal before sunset.

I'm Jeanette, by the way.

I'm Ravi.

Let's get your car off the road.

I just want to get some of my stuff out of the car.

We can get your stuff on the way back.

What do you do for a living?

I work in our family shop.

You?

I just finished my studies.

What did you study?

Law.

Are you married?

No.

But soon, I suppose.

Me too.

Thank you.

I'll just take the most important stuff, then we can go.

Will someone be able to help you with your spare tyre tomorrow?

It's Sunday, but I'll ask my dad.