Producer, Anant Singh announced today that Barry Gibb (co-founder of the Bee Gees) composed the song ‘Angels’ for the film ‘SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS’, which will have its World Premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday, 13 February 2016. Singh also announced that ‘The Voice of South Africa’, Vusi Mahlasela performed the song with Gibb.
‘SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS’, is directed by multi-award winner Oliver Schmitz (‘Life, Above All’), stars Steve Coogan (‘Philomena’), Andrea Riseborough (‘Birdman’, ‘Oblivion’) and talented newcomer, Garion Dowds, as well as a host of well-known local actors among whom are Deon Lotz, Robert Hobbs and Eduan van Jaarsveldt.
Set in late 1980’s South Africa, SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS follows John Weber, a hotshot lawyer who faces his biggest test when he agrees to defend a prison guard who has killed seven men. What ensues is a compelling charge against the death penalty itself, in a case that changes history.
Barry Gibb explains why he wrote the song, “We were just inspired by the film. The very thought of the way we all treat each other, and the inhumanity that we all tend to experience as a culture really struck us as profound, and of course, the film is profound. We do take a stand against capital punishment, and this is a cultural statement. Who enjoys the idea that we kill each other?”
“We travelled to Miami to screen the film for Barry and his family, as we knew he had strong views about the death penalty. They were so moved by the film that Barry wrote ‘Angels’ which has complemented the message of the film. I immediately felt that Vusi Mahlasela had to perform the song as he has a unique soulful voice which has a strong South African resonance. Vusi’s rendition with Barry is very powerful and captures the mood of the film,” said Singh.
The track ‘Angels’ plays over the closing credits of the film. It is written by Barry Gibb Stephen Gibb and Ashley Gibb, and performed by Vusi Mahlasela with Barry Gibb.
The song is published by Crompton Songs (BMI), Tune O Matic Songs (BMI) and Gee Son Songs (BMI). All rights are administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. Barry Gibb appears courtesy of Columbia Records.
The ‘Angels’ music video featurette can be viewed at: https://vimeo.com/154695110.
SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS is an Anant Singh presentation of a Videovision Entertainment/Distant Horizon production in association with Times Media Films, WDR/ARTE and The Department of Trade and Industry South Africa. The film stars Steve Coogan, Andrea Riseborough and Garion Dowds. Music is composed by Paul Hepker, is edited by Megan Gill with Diana Cilliers as Costume Designer and Director of Photography Leah Striker. It is executive produced by Robert Naidoo, Sudhir Pragjee, Sanjeev Singh, Andrew Bonamour and Andrew Gill; co-producers Barbara Buhl, Andreas Schreitmueller and Jan Krüger. Produced by Anant Singh and Brian Cox, the film is based on the book ‘Shepherds and Butchers’ by Chris Marnewick with the screenplay by Brian Cox and is directed by Oliver Schmitz.
For Further Information:
Nilesh Singh
Tel: 031 2046050
E-mail: nilesh@videovision.co.za
