When comedian Riaad Moosa’s film, New Material, hit the big screen last week, local comics in Cape Town gathered at Nu Metro cinema for a private screening organised by the funny man himself.
The official premier was held in Johannesburg on Thursday but Riaad didn’t want his tjommies to miss out and arranged a private viewing at Canal Walk.
The doctor, comic and filmmaker, who is originally from Cape Town, returned to the big screen with New Material, the sequel to the hugely popular, award-winning Material (2012).
Riaad was even more keen to get this film out during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Like many South Africans, he lost multiple family members and also suffered from the virus himself in 2020, but says the show must go on.
“New Material is the much-anticipated return of Cassim trying to figure out family, love, kids and comedy. I’m grateful to also have had my daughter Hanaa Moosa play the role of my daughter Mariam, in the film,” he says.
“During these chaotic and stressful pandemic times, I also launched a weekly virtual comedy club called The Best Medicine, featuring comedians from all over the world, and aimed at creating opportunities to heal through humour, laughter and many weird and wonderful therapies.”
In typical Riaad Moosa fashion, one of his routines was titled “I got Covid for the Holidays”.
New Material also stars Joey Rasdien, Denise Newman, Kurt Schoonraad and Shashi Naidoo.
Kurt hosted the local screening where comedians Yaaseen Barnes, Carl Weber, Dalin Oliver, Keenan Cerff and KG came out.
Yaaseen said he was impressed: “It’s lekker to see your friends in a movie, on a big screen, wow. The film has good comedy and realistic things. It’s a South African story that everyone can relate to.
“It’s cool to see a Muslim bra being a normal bra in a film and not a terrorist, or a coloured bra being a gangster as the stereotypes show.
“This is just normal South Africans being South African and celebrating it. This inspires me to make a movie as well. The world is sad as it is so people must go watch something like this that will make them happy.”