User Reviews

Writer and director, Tonie van der Merwe's movie opens a door to the past, taking you back in time to an Afrikaner community in the picturesque little town of Kwaggaberg in rural South Africa. This movie was released in 1975 and the dialogue is Afrikaans without subtitles, but having lived there myself I can explain what the movie's about. Trompie Toerien is a freckle-faced eleven year-old boy who's the leader of the Boksom, which includes his three chommies, Rooie (Reds), Blikkies (Cans) and little Dawie (Davy), who are all members of the local boxing club. In those days there were no TV's or video games to keep the boys occupied so they relied on their "captain" to entertain them. Together, the four boys get up to all sorts of mischief, often landing them in trouble with the townsfolk who don't always appreciate Trompie's wierd sense of humour. He is the king of pranks and has his own special way of talking himself out of any tight corner he finds himself in if he gets caught. It's a good thing he can, because "borrowing" the local dominee's (vicar's) pet baboon and letting it escape causing all sorts of havoc is just one of the antics Trompie and his gang get up to. As far as the adults who know Trompie are concerned, Trompie Toerien is trouble on two legs. I'm sure there's a bit of Tonie van der Merwe himself in the development of Trompie's character. When Tonie was interviewed by Tammi Scripps for Retro Afrika Bioscope on 17, November 2014 he said as soon as he first saw André Laubscher he knew he'd found his Trompie. André was in Standard 8 at (Höerskool Randburg) , Randburg High School, and looked at least three years younger than his actual age of fifteen. He'd also had previous acting experience, having played the boy from Karoo in "Groetnis vir die Eerste Minister" in 1973. I'm amazed that Tonie used the scene with the baboon because a dominee is very well respected person in the Afrikaner Dutch Reformed Church community and Tonie is an Afrikaner himself. When asked what was the hardest part in making this movie, Tonie said it was "directing" the animals, especially the baboon. Actually the baboon belonged to a friend of his in Krugersdorp. Tonie shows the viewer other aspects of Trompie's character in this movie, including the bond he shares with his three friends and the love he has for the animals he comes into contact with. Trompie's just a young boy growing up, with a vivid imagination, who likes to enjoy himself, and wants one thing more than anything else... ... a dog of his own. It's a delightful coming of age story, giving the viewer an insight into the everyday life of a typical youngster hungry for adventure, who's always dreaming up new ways to have fun. This movie was restored by Tonie van der Merwe and released on 30th April 2014 in South Africa to wide local acclaim. Even if you don't understand Afrikaans, this movie is worth watching, just to see the scenes with the baboon. And yes, Trompie really is "trouble on two legs." Enjoy!!! bcarruthers-76500