Inside Out

This thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy provides an interesting glimpse at the current state of relations between Jews, and Christians of all colors in South Africa's popular imagination. When the opportunity arises to perform as an opening act for an almost-famous comic in Cape Town, a fast-talking, down-on-her heels comedienne named Hazel Levine jumps at the chance and speeds off through the desert in her overloaded Volkswagen Beetle. When her car breaks down, she finds herself stranded in a small white Christian town, which, as luck would have it, is looking for someone to direct its annual Christmas nativity play. After taking the job, Hazel causes an uproar when she decides to integrate the performance. But when she becomes romantically involved with Tertius, a handsome white farmer, she discovers that change is a two-way street.

NEAL SUNDSTROM (Director) Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Neal Sundstrom has harboured a passion for film as long as he can remember. As a child actor, he worked on stage, in film and on early South African television. At the tender age of thirteen he wrote, directed and acted in his first film, an 8mm epic - financed by and starring his high school gym teacher. After his mandatory stint in the South African Defence Force - an experience that neither the SADF nor Neal wishes to remember - he started work at Heyns Films as a runner. Progressing at almost indecent speed through Production Assisting and Editing, Neal was soon making his presence felt on set as one of South Africa’s most highly considered 1st Assistant Directors. It was during this time that Neal’s dogged determination to direct finally paid off and put him back in the driving seat as 2nd Unit Director on nameless, faceless and for the most part, unseen, American B movies. These movies did, however, give Neal the opportunity to convince a local production company to make the award winning feature film Tyger, Tyger, Burning Bright. Having convinced his new wife, who he met on the big budget co-production, An African Dream, to star in the movie on the basis of a one-page story outline. Together they set about writing what was to be his real debut as a director. Made on 35mm for the princely sum of R200, 000, Tyger, Tyger received critical acclaim and prompted Neal’s move to England once the film was completed. As a direct result of Tyger, Tyger, Neal was offered the opportunity to direct The Howling V and despite the lofty Roman numeral in its title, this film was to be one of the most successful movies in the series with Neal choosing to make a psychologically fraught drama from a script originally dripping with blood. Soured by the B movie mentality, Neal returned to South Africa after six years in England. Back in South Africa, Neal went on to make a living directing numerous award winning documentaries, commercials and television productions, until he was offered the opportunity to direct The Visitor, a French co-production starring Arial Dombastle. The Visitor led to three more feature films - Anna, Crime of Love, and Behind the Mirror - for various French film companies, including Canal Plus & Pathe. For the South African crew and cast, their Enfant Terrible, Neal, was back and busy. In 1996, with these feature films and a number of low budget television series to his credit, Neal was offered the opportunity to direct the breakthrough South African English drama, Homeland. Working with a subject close to his heart - the relationship between men caught up in the violent struggle for South Africa’s democracy - and finally given the opportunity to sink his teeth into a real South African production, Neal was able to do some of his finest work to date. One of South Africa’s most renowned directors, Neal has garnered numerous awards, amongst them an Artes Best Director Award, 5 National Television Association, Best Director Avanti Awards and Special Mention at the New York Festival. Neal includes Kelebone a.k.a I Have Seen It (1998 Avanti Awards: Best Director and Best Production), Homeland (Best Production and Director Award nominee at F.I.P.A France 1997) and Addicted to Life (multi-award winning Anti Drug TV series) amongst his television credits.