Die Boland Moorde [English: The Boland Murders, denoting the "upper land" area just outside Cape Town famed for viticulture is a new local Afrikaans crime-solving forensic drama series starting on kykNET (DStv 144) on Tuesday 2 April at 20:00.
Die Boland Moorde for six episodes, each and hour and a half in length, is similar in scope, style and subject matter to such British series like Inspector Morse and follows two detectives André Fourie (Stian Bam) en Shane Williams (Brandon Daniels) solving cases in South Africa's winelands in feature length episodes.
Whether the actual scripts, production values and look of Die Boland Moorde will come across as quality art remains to be seen for this TV production which was shot over the course of two months at the end of 2012.
What is certain is that the episodic plots are quite intriguing and creative: In one episode of Die Boland Moorde entitled "Antjie Somers" officers Fourie and Williams have to investigate a mysterious death and find themselves on the set of a (fictitious, but oh so delicious sounding) Afrikaans film based on the very Afrikaans legend of Antjie Somers.
Louis Pretorius and Albert Snyman were responsible for the scripts and Die Boland Moorde was shot in and around Stellenbosch at more than 30 places, ranging from a caravan park and book shops to even a student residence.
Viewers will see more than 65 actors in Die Boland Moorde, including some very familiar faces such as Anna-Mart van der Merwe and Antoinette Kellerman.
Other actors include Martelize Kolver, Vicky Davis, Johan Esterhuizen, Marlo Minnaar, Marko van der Colff, Hannes van Wyk and AJ van der Merwe.
