Four Films Are Low On Romance And Responsibility

Netflixs mission to create more local rom-coms for South African audiences has been felt loud and clear in recent years.

The Umjolo film series is testament to the popularity of this genre among South African viewers. Though filled with storylines and character profiles typical of telenovelas, the innovation of a four-film series has been a success for award-winning production company Stained Glass.

Umjolo, a term that refers to dating or engaging in a romantic relationship, has, much like the recent countrywide floods, poured itself into the daily lexicon. Be it social media, books or film, we see many speak of the pain and joys of dating.

As Netflix South Africas first-ever film collection, Umjolo explores the love lives of four women navigating the complexities of relationships, commitment and self-discovery. A new film has been released each month since November, revealing a chapter in each womans journey.

Through event-planning maestro and hopeless romantic Lethu Sibongiseni Shezi, and her fianc Lucky Tyson Mathonsi, the first film, Umjolo: The Gone Girl, looks at modern relationships and familiar themes such as infidelity resulting in sexually transmitted diseases.