African Couch Potato

• S3 Ep21 Nikki Comninos on True Crime Documentaries

  The war is over, but the silence remains. The South African Border War left broken nations and haunted lives. Unspoken War reveals the hidden cost of a conflict few speak about and even fewer truly understand. This week Gino gets the chance to talk, via Zoom, in depth with the docuseries director Nikki Comninos.Born in Zimbabwe with a father in political exile and a mother busy covering war as a foreign correspondent, it is no real surprise that Nikki would end up working on documentaries. And what a list that is.  Gino and Nikki discuss from 2004's Algemeen Befokte Afrikaans through to last year's Tracking Thabo Bester, and of course, her latest work Unspoken War, a 6-part documentary now streaming on Showmax and also on Mnet.  While the war essentially took place from 1966 to 1989, very few people are aware of the details of it, as it's almost never spoken about, hence the title.As Niiki says, "Almost everybody has a connection to the war, and anybody we spoke to almost felt like they needed to get something off their chest.Yes? No? Send us a textLet us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:instagram.com/africancouchpotatotwitter.com/[email protected] WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • LetterboxdMember of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting [email protected] Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay© SANTE MEDIA 2025

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• S3 Ep20 Global Creative Summit & Everything Else

  Episode 20 of ACP found Gino in a sartorial spin when he was invited to speak at the inaugural Global Creative Summit that just happened in Johannesburg, but more on that later. We kick off the ep with a couple of reviews.First up is Boots on Netflix. based on the book The Pink Marine. This is the story of a gay teen who joins the Marine Corps in the late 70s. A brave move by anybody's standards; homosexuality being a big no-no in the US military at that time.  "I have done everything" claims the next subject under Gino's scrutiny. Being Eddie highlights Eddie Murphy's unique ability to reinvent himself throughout his nearly 50-year career, and his impact on the entertainment industry.Check out Gino's Top Ten Eddie Murphy moviesLife with Martin LawrenceComing To AmericaThe Nutty ProfessorDream GirlsDaddy Day CareShrekDr DolittleMeet DaveYou PeopleBeverly Hills Cop Axel F.Ok, the summit. Timed to coincide with the G20, the Global Creative Summit positioned Africa’s creative economy alongside the world’s leading economic agenda. Clever! The three-day event fixed around five creative areas where Africa is pushing the boundaries: music, film & television, fashion & design, gaming & digital arts, and publishing & literature. Each sector was explored through panel discussions (including Gino) aimed at unlocking growth and investment.Lastly a throwback in two senses. One, a feature that we used to do; the Golden Oldie, and two, back to 2011, with 50/50. Inspired by a true story, this poignant comedy centres on a 27-year-old guy who learns of his cancer diagnosis and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.And that's all she wrote...Don't miss next week when Gino chats to Nikki Comninos, director of Unspoken War. Yes? No? Send us a textLet us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:instagram.com/africancouchpotatotwitter.com/[email protected] WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • LetterboxdMember of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting [email protected] Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay© SANTE MEDIA 2025

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• S3 Ep19 News, Views and Reviews

  Welcome to Episode 19 of ACP and do we have news for you. This week, Gino deals with his son's birthday, faces up to Frankenstein and looks forward to the King of Pop on the silver screenFirst up, while finding animé content for his son's birthday, Gino finds out that ratings vary from country to country and that what is ok in one country is definitely not suitable in others.  Next, after months of waiting, director Guillermo del Toro's ambitious adaptation of author Mary Shelley's classic horror, Frankenstein, rises from the slab on Netflix.The big news is that the long-awaited Michael is finally happening in April next year, "tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson 5 to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world." You heard it here first.Showmax has released the trailer for Masinga - The Calling, due out early December. This edgy crime thriller explores an exiled Zulu detective's return to his homeland, where he is forced to confront the demons of his youth.Plus news of the GEMA awards, honouring innovation and outstanding achievements in TV and streaming marketing.And get ready for a true blast from the past with the rollout of a redcarpet of iconic favourites at Ster-Kinekor this month.Plenty of stuff to take your mind off the gloomy weather.Yes? No? Send us a textLet us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:instagram.com/africancouchpotatotwitter.com/[email protected] WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • LetterboxdMember of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting [email protected] Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay© SANTE MEDIA 2025

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• S3 Ep18 News, Views and Reviews

  November is here already, and to welcome it in Gino takes a quick look at whats hot and happening on the local scene. We kick off the episode with a couple of reviews; Bad Influencer on Netflix is a drama centred round celebs buying and selling faux gear, followed by Slay Queens on Showmax. This docuseries picks up on first-hand accounts of those ladies who hook up for cash.In the news, the SABC TV licence crisis is not getting any better, while Multichoice's Shaka iLembe scored big on the job front.Finally, what to look out for on Netflix:The Big C - A suburban mother faces her cancer diagnosis while trying to find humor and happiness as well.My Sister's Husband - Amara deceitfully pawns her sister off to her husband which leads to a marital quagmire.Just Alice - A resourceful wife leads a double life, expertly juggling separate households and husbands while trying to keep her elaborate charade from falling apart.Unspeakable Things - Leanne Morgan discusses her rise to fame, family matters, and her one-time CBD experience. Being Eddie - Follows a comprehensive look at Eddie Murphy's life and career. while on Showmax:Outlaws S2 - Set in the lush but lawless land on the border between Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal, Outlaws is the story of two families at war with each otherThe Unspoken War - In 1993, four years after the last shots were fired in the "Border War", a peaceful end to apartheid was negotiated.Drop - A widowed mother's first date in years takes a terrifying turn when she's bombarded with anonymous threatening messages on her phone.Last Breath - A true story that follows seasoned deep-sea divers as they battle the raging elements to rescue their crew mate trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean's surface.High Ground - When a mysterious prisoner lands in his jail, a border town sheriff faces the wrath of a brutal cartel in this action-packed thriller.That should keep you going for a while - enjoy!Yes? No? Send us a textLet us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:instagram.com/africancouchpotatotwitter.com/[email protected] WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • LetterboxdMember of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting [email protected] Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay© SANTE MEDIA 2025

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• S3 Ep17 ”Finding Optel” with Mikayla Joy Brown

  Where to after Silwerskerm? For 25 year-old Mikayla Joy Brown and her 30 year-old brother Jesse Brown the answer was the prestigious BFI London Film Festival.Their film Finding Optel just started streaming on Showmax last week so Gino grabbed the opportunity to chat to co-director, writer and lead actress, Mikayla, about what inspired her, how they pulled it together and what it was like being at the London Film Festival.The heartwarming, quirky detective story Finding Optel is all about teenager Claire Abrahams who runs a lost and found service. When the community dog, Optel, goes missing, Claire stumbles upon clues to another mystery much closer to home — the disappearance of her troubled older brother. Through quirky encounters, community secrets, and a trail of hope, Claire must solve her biggest case yet.Mikayla chats to Gino about the inspirations behind the film and her desire to paint a different picture of life on the Cape Flats, away from the usual stories of gangsterism and violence.“There is such beauty that exists in those communities. I wanted Finding Optel to portray a different narrative that is more hopeful than harrowing." says Mikayla.Yes? No? Send us a textLet us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:instagram.com/africancouchpotatotwitter.com/[email protected] WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato Gino Shelile’s profile • LetterboxdMember of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting [email protected] Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay© SANTE MEDIA 2025

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