One Week Only: Variations on a Theme Comes to Cinemas This May

A powerful new voice in South African cinema arrives on the big screen this May as Variations on a Theme opens for a limited one-week run from Friday, 8 May 2026. Timed for the Mother’s Day weekend, the film offers a deeply personal and reflective viewing experience rooted in family, memory, and generational legacy.

Directed by 2026 Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year Jason Jacobs alongside co-director Devon Delmar, the 65-minute Afrikaans-language drama has already captured global attention—most notably winning the prestigious Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, an honour previously awarded to filmmakers like Christopher Nolan.

A Story Rooted in Memory and Waiting

Set in the remote mountains of Kharkams in the Northern Cape, the film follows Ouma Hettie, a 79-year-old goat herder whose quiet life is disrupted by a scam promising long-overdue reparations for her father’s World War II service.

As she clings to the hope of compensation that will never arrive, her 80th birthday brings family members to her doorstep—forcing a confrontation between independence and the pressures of aging, memory, and change.

The narrative unfolds through a unique visual structure inspired by musical “theme and variations,” where repeated scenes subtly shift to reveal deeper emotional truths. This poetic approach transforms everyday life into a meditation on endurance, loss, and the passage of time.

A Personal Story Brought to Life

At the heart of Variations on a Theme is a deeply intimate connection. Ouma Hettie is portrayed by Hettie Farmer—Jason Jacobs’ real-life grandmother—who delivers a remarkable debut performance at the age of 80.

The film draws inspiration from Jacobs’ own family history. His great-grandfather, like many South African soldiers who served in World War II, returned home with little recognition or reward. That unresolved legacy echoes through generations and forms the emotional backbone of the film.

“While the story is fictional, it’s grounded in lived experiences. This community is still waiting, still hoping—just as they have been since 1945.”

says co-director Devon Delmar

From Kharkams to the World Stage

Following its Venice debut with Carissa, Jacobs and Delmar have cemented their place as rising filmmakers with Variations on a Theme. Beyond Rotterdam, the film has continued its international success:

• Best African Film at the Joburg Film Festival
• Screenings at the Hong Kong International Film Festival
• Featured at New Directors/New Films in New York, presented by MoMA and Film at Lincoln Center

Critics have praised the film’s quiet power and lyrical storytelling. Variety describes it as “lovely” with a “warmly observational, literary quality,” while ScreenDaily calls it “a pure, fresh, surprising cinematic delight.”

Community at Its Core

The film is a production of KRAAL, a collective committed to storytelling and skills development in the Northern Cape. Notably, the entire cast is drawn from the local community, bringing authenticity and lived experience to the screen.

In March 2026, the filmmakers returned to Kharkams for a three-night red carpet screening, celebrating the film’s international success with the very community that shaped it.

Their work was also recognised at the SAFTAs, where KRAAL received the Outstanding Provincial Contribution Award.

Where to Watch

Variations on a Theme will screen in select cinemas across South Africa for one week only:

• The Labia and Ster-Kinekor V&A Nouveau in Cape Town
• The Bioscope and Ster-Kinekor Rosebank Nouveau in Johannesburg

A Timely Release for Mother’s Day

Releasing over Mother’s Day weekend adds a poignant layer to the film’s themes. Ouma Hettie stands as a symbol of resilience, representing generations of South African women whose stories often go untold.

Through its quiet, patient storytelling, Variations on a Theme asks a profound question: what does justice look like when generations have been made to wait?

For audiences seeking a cinematic experience that is both intimate and thought-provoking, this limited release is not to be missed.