God’s Work, a new film by acclaimed Durban filmmaker Michael James, has been selected to compete for Best South African Feature, and will have its SA Premiere at this year’s Durban International Film Festival on Sunday, July 20.
The film unfolds in a crumbling building in central Durban, where Simphiwe, portrayed by SAFTA-winning actor Thobani Nzuza and other homeless men struggle with poverty, addiction, and the temptations of fleeting notoriety.
The ensemble cast also features Mbulelo Radebe, Omega Mncube, Siya Xaba, Zenzo Msomi and Nduduzo Khowa.
James got inspiration for God’s Work while filming a documentary about homeless shelters at the Denis Hurley Centre in Durban during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I intend to engage with both the internal and external worlds of the characters and to allow the audience deeper access into the surreal and often troubling recesses of the human mind,” he said.
Director Michael James and Lungani Malo
Executive Producer Toni Monty described the project as a powerful story.
“From the outset, God’s Work stood out for its bold vision and emotional depth…We look forward to sharing it with Durban audiences,” Monty said.
For producer Sithabile Mkhize, it explores humanity in its most disenfranchised state.
“The film considers what it means to be human in an unjust world…This is not just a film about homelessness, it’s a story about power, loss, resistance—and what it costs to stay human in a world that’s abandoned its soul,” she said.
God’s Work was produced by Mkhize, co-produced by Marco Orsini, and executive produced by Monty and Gary Springer. Screenings will be held in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town through July and early August.
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