SPINNERS
Revving a South African story into a worldwide success
The third collaboration between Showmax and CANAL+ will have viewers glued to their screens. The new series, Spinners, has already made big waves overseas. CANAL+ is a French television channel and the international audience is loving the truly South African story.
It follows a seventeen-year-old Ethan – a young man that does everything in his power to provide and care for his family. With the lack of any parental figures, he gains a newfound family in one of the local gangs. As their driver he is exposed to a world of violence and cruelty. He tries to balance being a responsible brother, a gang member, and a teenage boy as well as his newfound love for spinning. But the knife’s blade is getting sharper and sharper. What life will he choose for himself, and at what cost?
Spinners has created a higher level of quality for television in South Africa. This is a series that tells a South African story, that many viewers will relate to. The characters are wonderfully developed and characterized. And there is no shortage of action, drama or even comedy. The soundtrack is an additional character in this series, as it builds the world and milieu of the Cape Flats, gangsterism and the life of the colored community. The sound supervisor and composer of the soundtrack, DJ Ready D, or Deon Daniels was a wonderful addition to the production team, as he is also a stunt driver.
Cantona James, the lead in the series, brings so much to the table in his characterization of Ethan. His preparation, as a method actor, paid off. Fully immersing himself in Ethan’s life, is what makes his depiction of Ethan a phenomenal one. There is a sort of melancholy in watching Ethan juggling responsibility and morality. As an audience member, you cannot help yourself in wanting better for this character. When he makes another choice that steers him further away from the path he wants to take, you feel hopeless yourself.
James is not the only talented actor in this series. The series has a star-studded cast, with actors like SAFTA winner Brendon Daniels, Chelsea Thomas from Arendsvlei and Dillon Windvogel (Blood & Water). There was not a single character lacking in depth and character development. These characters are interesting and throughout the series, you want to know more and understand them better. The actors did a wonderful job bringing these fully fledged characters to life through their characterization.
The editing and sound mixing, flows with the story. The right choices were made and implemented, as the changes in the sounds and soundtrack as well as the cuts and the flow of the different scenes put together, create a story that is easy to follow, but does not hand you everything on a silver platter. The cinematography is of a golden standard. The imagery, and placement of characters in different scenes, aids to better illustrate the narratives and characters emotions and thoughts.
In terms of costume, it perfectly fits normal lower-class citizens of Cape Town. It fits the characters and the narrative well. It creates a clear differentiation between the gang members, the residents of the Flats and the teenagers in the series. It is not incredibly creative or exciting, but it does aid in character development and identification.
Director Jaco Bouwer boasts of multiple nominations and awards for his work – locally and globally. The latest being best achievement in directing a feature film, for his film Gaia at the SAFTAs. Bouwer has created a neat, well-organized narrative. It creates a solid environment for the actors to explore how far they can take their characterization.
In his previous works, Gaia and 4Mure (available on Showmax) there is a uniqueness in genre-bending and the works could be seen as very niche. The difference between his previous work and Spinners, is that the narrative is not as extravagant, but the characters fuel the story.
The story of Spinners is as real and true in the Cape Flats, as it is reflected on screen. This representation of real issues, of a real community, is what makes this series stand out to me. Yes, the production quality, acting and plotlines are brilliant. But in this series, we find a story that is set in a very specific milieu. There is a limited number of people that lived this story, but in every character, a plethora of viewers will find something to relate to.
The first episode will be available on Showmax from the 8th of November. With new episodes every Wednesday.
Rating Scores
- Directing 100%
- Acting 80%
- Screenwriting 100%
- Music 100%
- Editing 80%
- Sound 80%
- Cinematography 100%
- Visual Effects 80%
- Makeup & Hair 60%
- Costume Design 80%
- Production Design 100%
Production Information
Running Time
54 min
Writers
Benjamin Hoffman, Joachim Landau, Matthew Jankes, Sean Steinberg, Byron Abrahams, Zoë Laband, Daniel Zimbler, Gillian Breslin
Producer & Director
New Tab | Jaco Bouwer
Production Company
Canal+ & Showmax
Age Restriction
16
Actors
Brendon Daniels, Cantona James, Dillon Windvogel, Esteban Hernandez-Sanchez, Braeden Buys, Elton Landrew, Stephren Saayman, David Isaacs, Jihaad Otto
Rating
87%
Streamer's Website
Jonett Olivier
Actor, writer & director
Jonett Olivier received her honours degree in Drama & Film Studies from the University of Pretoria in 2022, majoring in Writing and Directing. Predominantly a theatre actress, she also harbors a deep love for South African film and television. As an emerging actress and writer, she is committed to staying abreast of the latest works produced by South African creators. Her aspiration is to craft authentic South African stories, whether as a writer, director, actress, or all three. Among her inspirations in film and theatre are Nico Scheepers, Tinarie van Wyk Loots, Rolanda Marais, Bennie Fourie, and Tertius Kapp.
POPCORN TIME
Address
80 Strand St. #112, Cape Town, RSA 8001