DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
Ever since my first short movie was banned as "undesirable" by the racist government in South Africa, I wanted to make a feature film that reflects the state-of-mind that created Apartheid and look at those people today and what they're going through. I wanted to make a film that was accessible and entertaining so I chose to write a dark comedy that kept far away from the obvious heavy political drama of those anti-apartheid movies from the 1980's. PURE BLOOD is about a dysfunctional family, obsessed with their dark secrets from the past and a very unhealthy and screwball view of the future. I was inspired by the humour and social satire in films like PARENTS (dir: Bob Balaban), THE YOUNG POISONER'S HANDBOOK (dir: Benjamin Ross) and DELICATTESSEN (dir: Jeunet & Caro). These films made me laugh, but they also touched a tender nerve in their observations about families and the human condition. Although the movie draws on influences from other films, PURE BLOOD is my vision of a world unlike anything you've seen before.
The theme of blood interested me because it is a symbol that operates on so many levels. It is the mainstay of life. It cleans and renews and without it there can be no re-birth. But blood can also be tainted by corrupt beliefs and dangerous ideologies. I like this contrast and the ironies that emerge in dealing with the acts of love, revenge and betrayal that motivate so many of our actions.
I see the movie is a grand tart. An over decorated sweet cake that looks seductive on the surface, but inside is full of surprises and forbidden fruits.
- Ken Kaplan -
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| ROME FANTA FESTIVAL AWARD |
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