Synopsis:

This feature documentary tells the story of Bo-Kaap, South Africa’s oldest Muslim neighbourhood, and its fight against gentrification through the intersecting journeys of five protagonists. It also explores the community's parallel struggle for a free Palestine. Bo-Kaap’s oldest resident, Hadji Abdiah Da Costa, aged 98, recounts her life story, the history of her ancestors, and her current residence next to the Auwal Mosque on Dorp Street – South Africa’s first Mosque built in 1794. The roots of Islam in South Africa trace back to the 1600s in the Cape, where the Dutch brought indentured laborers and political prisoners from the Malay Archipelago, known for its spice trade. The documentary, titled The Rise, captures Bo-Kaap's intergenerational narrative through the experiences of its protagonists, who share stories of community, solidarity, identity, and access to land before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on three central characters' solidarity with Palestine over six years, culminating during the 2023/24 Gaza genocide. The film also features interviews in Bo-Kaap, including one with Honourable Minister Naledi Pandor.

Director’s profile:

Weaam Williams is a South African screenwriter, director, actress, and poet. She studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Cape Town. Williams has found her voice as a woman and activist through cinema. Her documentary directorial debut, Hip-Hop Revolution, won the Best Edited Film Award at the NYC Reel Sisters Film Festival in 2008, with Spike Lee as Head of the Jury, and has been broadcast in 28 countries. Since then, Weaam has directed award-winning titles such as District Six Rising from the Dust and Two Hues.