Faith Like Potatoes
Encyclopedia
Faith Like Potatoes is a 2006 South Africa
n biographical drama film
based on the 1988 book written by Angus Buchan
, "Faith like Potatoes." It is written and directed by Regardt van den Bergh
, and stars Frank Rautenbach, Jeanne Wilhelm, Hamilton Dhlamini, and Sean Michael Cameron. The film follows Buchan and his family’s move from Zambia
to South Africa and chronicles his Christian faith throughout that time.
, South Africa, Buchan leaves his farm in Zambia
in the midst of political unrest and racially charged land reclaims and travels south with his family to start a better life. With nothing more than a caravan on a patch of land, and help from his foreman, Simeon Bhengu, the Buchan family struggles to settle in a new country. Faced with ever mounting challenges, hardships and personal turmoil, Buchan quickly spirals down into a life consumed by anger, fear and destruction. Finally, his wife convinces him to attend a local church, where the testimonies of other farmers influence his decision to give his life to Jesus Christ. His outlook takes a complete turnaround, and supernatural
occurrences begin to happen when Angus prays in faith. He begins giving his testimony in different towns, and eventually gathers thousands of people in Kings Park Stadium
for a time of unified prayer for the nation and for the land.
Traditionally a maize and cattle farmer, Buchan decides to plant potatoes. Scientist
s had warned the farmers not to plant that season unless they had irrigation. Because of the unprecedented drought, planting potatoes would be a massive risk. Believing he is led by the Lord, he plants potatoes in the dry dust. When harvest time comes, there is a crop of giant potatoes.
Farm, the famous Buchan farm in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Faith Like Potatoes was shown at several small film festivals including the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival and the Australian International Film Festival
. It was especially well received by Christian organizations, and won the audience choice award at the 2006 Sabaoth International Film Festival held in Milan, Italy.
Ted Baehr
, chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission, described the film as "Fireproof
" on steroids.
consisting of the songs played in this movie has been released, with the score by Grant Innes McLachlan. The title song for the movie, A New Day, was written and performed by South African artist Joe Niemand.
, Italy
, Germany
and the UK. Sony Pictures released the DVD in April 2009 in North America
and worldwide in July 2009.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n biographical drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
based on the 1988 book written by Angus Buchan
Angus Buchan
Angus Buchan was originally a Zambian maize and cattle farmer of Scottish descent who started farming in Zambia but was forced to sell everything and move to Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in 1978 due to political unrest in that country....
, "Faith like Potatoes." It is written and directed by Regardt van den Bergh
Regardt van den Bergh
Regardt van den Bergh is a South African film and television actor, film director and screenwriter.-Career:-Partial filmography:-External links:...
, and stars Frank Rautenbach, Jeanne Wilhelm, Hamilton Dhlamini, and Sean Michael Cameron. The film follows Buchan and his family’s move from Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
to South Africa and chronicles his Christian faith throughout that time.
Plot
Set in KwaZulu-NatalKwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, South Africa, Buchan leaves his farm in Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
in the midst of political unrest and racially charged land reclaims and travels south with his family to start a better life. With nothing more than a caravan on a patch of land, and help from his foreman, Simeon Bhengu, the Buchan family struggles to settle in a new country. Faced with ever mounting challenges, hardships and personal turmoil, Buchan quickly spirals down into a life consumed by anger, fear and destruction. Finally, his wife convinces him to attend a local church, where the testimonies of other farmers influence his decision to give his life to Jesus Christ. His outlook takes a complete turnaround, and supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
occurrences begin to happen when Angus prays in faith. He begins giving his testimony in different towns, and eventually gathers thousands of people in Kings Park Stadium
Kings Park Stadium
Kings Park , is a stadium in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct in Durban, South Africa, which was originally built in 1891 and extensively renovated in the 1990s...
for a time of unified prayer for the nation and for the land.
Traditionally a maize and cattle farmer, Buchan decides to plant potatoes. Scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
s had warned the farmers not to plant that season unless they had irrigation. Because of the unprecedented drought, planting potatoes would be a massive risk. Believing he is led by the Lord, he plants potatoes in the dry dust. When harvest time comes, there is a crop of giant potatoes.
Production
Faith like Potatoes was produced by Frans Cronje from Global Creative Studios. The majority of the filming took place at ShalomShalom
Shalom is a Hebrew word meaning peace, completeness, and welfare and can be used idiomatically to mean both hello and goodbye...
Farm, the famous Buchan farm in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Release and reception
The movie opened in cinemas in South Africa on 27 October 2006.Faith Like Potatoes was shown at several small film festivals including the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival and the Australian International Film Festival
Australian International Film Festival
The Australian International Film Festival, or AIFF, was a Melbourne festival held in 2006.An earlier festival with this name was renamed to Canberra International Film Festival.- Awards :...
. It was especially well received by Christian organizations, and won the audience choice award at the 2006 Sabaoth International Film Festival held in Milan, Italy.
Ted Baehr
Ted Baehr
M. Robert E. Theodore Baehr is an American media critic and Chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission, a division of Good News Communications, Inc...
, chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission, described the film as "Fireproof
Fireproof (film)
Fireproof is a 2008 American Christian drama film released by Samuel Goldwyn Films and Affirm Films , directed by Alex Kendrick, who co-wrote and co-produced it with Stephen Kendrick...
" on steroids.
Soundtrack
A soundtrackSoundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
consisting of the songs played in this movie has been released, with the score by Grant Innes McLachlan. The title song for the movie, A New Day, was written and performed by South African artist Joe Niemand.
Home Media
Faith like Potatoes was released on DVD, December 2006 in South Africa, as well as in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the UK. Sony Pictures released the DVD in April 2009 in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and worldwide in July 2009.