Katlego Sekhu
The film Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, adapted from Alexandra Fuller’s best-selling memoir, will officially premiere in South Africa on 25 July 2025.
Directed by acclaimed actress and filmmaker Embeth Davidtz, the film brings to screen a rare and poignant portrayal of Zimbabwe’s transition from colonial rule to independence.
Shot entirely in South Africa, the film follows eight-year-old Bobo, played by newcomer Lexi Venter, as she navigates grief, identity, and fractured family dynamics against the backdrop of the final days of the Rhodesian Bush War.
Through Bobo’s perspective, viewers are offered an intimate, emotionally layered account of white childhood in a rapidly changing African landscape.
Davidtz, who also stars in the film, drew from her own experiences growing up in apartheid-era South Africa to bring a sense of emotional authenticity to Bobo’s story.
“This film is deeply personal for me,” she shared. “It helped me process my own childhood in apartheid-era South Africa. Through Bobo’s eyes, I wanted to show that even in the middle of pain and inherited racism, love and transformation are actually possible.”
The film boasts a stellar local cast including Zikhona Bali, Fumani N Shilubana, and Rob Van Vuuren.
Its production is anchored by Anele Mdoda, Frankie Du Toit, and Trevor Noah, alongside producers Helena Spring and Paul Buys, whose work continues to elevate African storytelling on the global stage.
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