Poena Is Koning

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.

Poena Is Koning
Directed byWillie Esterhuizen
Screenplay byWillie Esterhuizen
StarringRobbie Wessels
Gerhard Odendaal
Perlé van Schalkwyk
Lizz Meiring
Wim Botes
Liandi Grobler
CinematographyAndré van den Heever
Edited byPieter Esterhuizen
Music byToby Esterhuizen
Robbie Wessels[1]
Production
company
Aardbol Films[1]
Distributed bySter-Kinekor
Release date
21 September 2007
Running time
85 mins
CountrySouth Africa
LanguageAfrikaans

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%.[3] 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.[2]

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.[5] 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.[8]

Cast
  • Robbie Wessels as Poena Pieterse
  • Gerhard Odendaal as Vaatjie
  • Perlé van Schalkwyk
  • Lizz Meiring
  • Wim Botes
  • Llandie Grobler
  • Carien Botha as Blapsie
  • Ben Kruger as the headmaster

See also

References
  1. "Poena is koning". Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  2. Broodryk, Chris W. (2013). "The cinema of Willie Esterhuizen: the quest for sex and hegemonic masculinity". Image & Text. 22 (1): 6–26.
  3. De Waal, Shaun (9 October 2007). "Gat is koning". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  4. Botha, Martin (2012). South African cinema 1896-2010. Bristol, UK: Intellect. p. 191. ISBN 978-1-84150-458-2.
  5. Dercksen, Daniel (2008). "Conversations". The Writing Studio. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012.
  6. "Movie Review - Poena Is Koning". Independent Online. 21 September 2007. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  7. Import, Pongrass (21 January 2014). "A rare journey for South African cinema". Fourways Review. Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  8. Engelbrecht, Renate (25 February 2022). "Get ready for more belly laughs as 'Poena' launches his very own series". The Citizen. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
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