"Gog' Helen" is actually a film from 2012, not 2024. It first appeared at the Durban International Film Festival around 2012/2013. While it seems there might be a re-release or streaming option in 2024 on AfrolandTV, the movie itself was made earlier. Nigerian-South African director Adze Ugah has created an energetic township action-comedy that shows you don’t need a large Hollywood budget to make something with real heart and excitement. "Gog' Helen" is a fun story mixing social commentary with genuinely funny moments, largely thanks to a strong performance from veteran actress Lillian Dube. The basic idea behind the film is quite simple: Gog' Helen (Dube), an older woman living in a shantytown, has been hiding her savings inside her old mattress for years. When her well-meaning granddaughter Agnes (Kagiso Rakosa) surprises her with a new bed and accidentally throws out the old one, they begin a hurried search to get the money back. To make things more complicated, the mattress is already on its way to a recycling center, and some dangerous criminals—Agnes’s employers in a prostitution ring—are angry that their source of income has disappeared. Lillian Dube is fantastic. She brings both seriousness and humor to her role as a grandmother who refuses to be ignored. Her connection with Rakosa creates a believable and touching relationship between generations, which helps ground the film's more outrageous parts. The other actors—including Jet Novuka, Andile Mxakaza, and the late Patrick Shai—add interesting details to both the criminal world and their chaotic journey. Ugah, who gained experience working on South African television shows like Isibaya and Zone 14, has a good sense of how to keep things moving. The film quickly shifts from the small space of a shack to the large industrial area of dump sites, while still staying true to its emotional core. The action isn’t about big explosions; it comes from the desperation of regular people. Underneath the story about finding a mattress, there's a thoughtful look at how vulnerable people are financially in South Africa after apartheid. Gog' Helen's reluctance to use banks isn't just strange—it’s based on what she’s learned through difficult experiences. The film quietly points out how informal settlements exist both inside and outside of the regular economy, where someone’s life savings can easily be mistaken for garbage. Some parts of the criminal storyline don't feel fully developed, and some jokes depend on obvious physical humor that might not appeal to everyone. The film's modest budget is noticeable at times, though it doesn't usually take away from the story. "Gog' Helen" proves how strong South African cinema can be—finding universal humor in specific situations and celebrating the strength of women who are often overlooked by society. Now that it’s available on AfrolandTV in 2024, this lesser-known film deserves to be seen again by people looking for authentic African stories that entertain and also make you think. See it because of: Lillian Dube's powerful performance, the unique setting in a township, and as a reminder that the best things are often hidden—even inside an old mattress.

Source on TMDB