FAITH LIKE POTATOES

South Africa, 2006, 116 minutes, Colour.
Frank Rautenbach, Jean Wilhelm, Hamilton Dlamini, Sean Cameron Michael, Regardt van den Bergh.
Directed by Regardt van den Bergh.

Faith like Potatoes is based on an autobiographical story by Angus Buchan, a Scotsman who moved to Zambia and into South Africa. He is presented as an angry man, struggling with his farm work, and racist in some of his behaviour. He decides to move to South Africa and to farm there, living with his wife, pregnant, and three children. The work is hard, and he is continually on edge, angry with some of the Zulu people whom his white friends say are unreliable.

He is persuaded by his wife to go to a parish function at the Methodist Church, goes to the church the next day, is moved by the preacher’s words and commits himself and his family to Jesus. A whole transformation takes place, he learns Zulu, is more amenable with the workers, has a peace of mind, sets up a social centre, becomes a lay preacher, organises a huge rally in Kings Park, seems to have the gift of healing although this is challenged when his nephew was killed in a tractor accident.

The film shows photos of Buchan, his wife and family during the final credits.

This is a very sincere, evangelical film, aimed at a target audience of believers, probably not very persuasive to non-believers. It was written and directed by the actor-director, Regardt van den Bergh. He has directed a number of films, especially the Visual Bible version of The Gospel of Matthew and the Visual Bible Acts of the Apostles.

1. The target audience, believers, their being satisfied with the film? Its impact on non-believers? A Christian impact?

2. A true story, based on the autobiography by the central character, Angus Buchan? His portrait of himself, his early angers, hard work, nerves, racist behaviour, the religious conversion, committing himself and his family, his prayer, speaking with God, powers of healing? The challenge to his beliefs, the death of his nephew? His support from the local minister? His achievement with the rally of farmers in Kings Park?

3. The locations, Zambia, South Africa, the countryside, the churches, towns, Kings Park? The musical score, religious music, hymns?

4. The screenplay, expository, inspirational? The brief episodes, the lack of indication of time passing, development of character or remaining the same? Episodes in glimpses? The dramatic impact – and the loss of dramatic impact?

5. The Buchan family, in Zambia, hard work, labour, the crops, failure? Angus and his family? His pregnant wife? His angers, attacking the man in the truck for bad driving? His wife trying to control him?

6. The decision to move to South Africa, the land, the lack of water, the issue of crops, his trying to get the tree stump (and finally the Zulus removing it)? Living in the trailer, the children going to the local school? The Zulus, offer of work, his resistance? The white club, the policeman, the farmers, playing polo? The advice about the Zulus and trustworthiness?

7. His accepting the workers, their offering to build a house, the housebuilding? In a short time? The issue of driving the tractor, the crash, his anger? Playing polo, tranquillisers? His wife persuading him to go to the Methodist meeting, his reluctance, anger about wearing the tie? Invited to go to church?

8. His going to church, the preacher, his practical spirituality, Bible language? Angus being moved, deciding to go up with his family to dedicate himself to Jesus? The minister giving him the Bible? The minister, is easy style, not always in religious dress, out in the fields, encouraging Angus?

9. The transformation of his life, learning Zulu and speaking it with the Zulus, kinder to his wife and children? The charity centre? His personal beliefs, prayer, the commission to tell friends of his commitment? Their reactions? The issue of the farms, the idea for the crop of potatoes, his brother’s idea? Impractical, the banks calling in his money?

10. The idea of the rally, going to the managers of Kings Park, talking with the minister, his plans, the phone call, acceptance of the proposal, the glimpses of the rally and his speech?

11. The background of the family, the meetings, the nieces and nephews, going on the tractor, the accident with the boy, going to the hospital, his death? The effect on everyone? Angus and his blame? His brother ring after having the dream about his son?

12. The decision about the potato crop, the lack of rain, having faith, with Simeon in the field, eventually giving, the large potatoes, everybody’s joy?

13. The Zulus, Simeon and his office, friendship with the years, the other men in their work?

14. The lightning, the storm, the woman struck by lightning, Angus praying, reviving?

15. The impact of the film, faith-inspired?