Bunny Chow

Black and white, 35 mm
South Africa, 2006, 95 min
Section: Forum of Independents

Synopsis

The film follows the raucous and often ridiculous weekend journey of three stand-up comedians. Egos run high and careers are at stake as Kags, an arrogant womaniser, Joey, a devout yet belligerent Muslim, and Dave, a somewhat innocent and naive “dishwasher” with dreams of making it big on the comedy scene, embark on a road trip to Oppikoppi, South Africa’s biggest annual rock festival. The trio slip out of their normal lives for a few dusty and increasingly absurd days with hopes of mass debauchery, drugs, rampant sex, true love and huge success on stage with their comedy pieces, but they get a bit more than they bargained for. An original comedy about young people from contemporary Johannesburg, with real stand-up comedians, who made a major contribution to the final shape of the film.

About the director

John Barker (b. Durban, South Africa) studied graphic design at the Durban Institute of Technology. He started filmmaking first as an editor, then as a cameraman and, later on, as a graphic designer. He began directing music videos and short films, including State (1996), Rasta Dogs (1998), Lick (1999), Africon Mon (2000) and The Last Days of Anna Van Storm (2004). He has also worked on a few TV shows, including The Pure Monate Show, and is credited with Blu Cheez (2003), South Africa’s first music mockumentary. Bunny Chow (2006) is his first feature film.