Director

Rod Stewart

Cast list

Bill Flynn... Tjokkie Hetherington
Paul Slabolepszy... Crispin Wentzel
Shirley Johnston... Celeste Wentzel
Nicky Rebelo... Maloom
Michelle Levin... Angela
Graham Hopkins... Desk clerk
Brendan Grealy... Ratkas
David Sherwood... Rhys-Jones
Robert Whitehead... Frenchman
Alan T. Marks... British fan

Credits

Directors: Rod Stewart, Bill Flynn (co-director), Paul Slabolepszy (co-director)
Written By: Paul Slabolepszy (original play), Bill Flynn

Synopsis

A South African comedy film based on the multi-award winning play of the same name. Tjokkie and Crispin travel to Wales to attend the 1999 Rugby World Cup. The pair end up staying at a small hotel where they befriend an Asian computer salesman. They try to teach their new friend about the game of rugby, only to have some very amusing misunderstandings. Their hijinks culminate when they summon a call-girl to the hotel room, only to have Crispin’s wife show up unexpectedly to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Tjokkie becomes a reluctant hero when he has to cover for his friend. Inspired by the South African win of the Rugby World Cup in 1995.

Reviews

Heel Against the Head M-Net (African broadcasting company)

Heel Against the Head The South African Movie Site (South African film critics’ ratings, visitor ratings and comments)

Heel Against the Head: The Cult Movie Vetseun (synopsis)

Tjokkie Herington Wikipedia.org (background on the character of Tjokkie, who also appears in another South African film called Running Riot)

Academic Articles:

Kruger, Loren. “Theatre, Crime, and the Edgy City in Post-Apartheid Johannesburg.” Theatre Journal 53.2 (2001): 223-252. (Article that focuses on Paul Slabolepszy’s plays as a whole)