Elani Dekker on her role as Katrien in Die Bloedhonde

Now streaming on Showmax, Die Bloedhonde stars SAFTA nominee Elani Dekker (SA Oscar entry Toorbos) as Katrien, the black sheep of her family, who suspects a suicide at their campsite may actually be a murder.

Die Bloedhonde co-stars Waldemar Schultz (Die Byl) as the permanent camper who becomes Watson to her Sherlock, while SAFTA nominee Tobie Cronjé (Hans Steek Die Rubicon Oor) plays the dominee who is her prime suspect.

The quirky murder mystery is the feature film debut of writer-director Stiaan Smith, the SAFTA-winning co-creator of Hotel. It’s produced by Nagvlug Films, who were also behind South Africa’s Oscar entry Barakat and acclaimed series like Donkerbos and Nêrens, Noord-Kaap.

Early reviews are positive: IOL’s Bernelee Vollmer calls it “a compelling coming-of-age mystery”; Rapport’s Leon Van Nierop “effortless entertainment”; and, speaking about its premiere at Silwerskerm last month, Rooi Rose managing editor Vilien-Miri Coetzee says, “It was my favourite film of the entire festival! The depth and the growth of the main character is astonishing to see in an Afrikaans film. I look forward to seeing what else Stiaan Smith and the production team from Nagvlug comes up with next."

Watch the trailer for Die Bloedhonde

Roz Els spoke with Elani to find out more.

Tell us how you got involved?

Stiaan Smith is my fiancé. Because he wrote the screenplay and directed the film, I was involved from the beginning, first as a sounding board for him to get his thoughts in order, and later when it turned out that I would play the lead role.

Stiaan will tell you that he wrote the role for me, and it's very beautiful and special, but I honestly, in my heart of hearts, didn't think that I was going to play Katrien. It was easier for me to look at it and think about it as if someone else would.

When we got closer to shooting time and they had to choose the cast, he finally convinced me. It ultimately felt right to wear Katrien’s shoes, as I realised that I am so inextricably part of the story, and the message of the story. I think there’s a Katrien in both of us.

How would you describe Katrien?

Katrien has a very strong personality. I could relate a lot to her search for the truth; with her will to not just take up and accept other people's opinions and feelings as her own, but rather to investigate for herself.

But she is also a leader, a fighter for what she believes in. This can be a very nice quality, but it can also sometimes make you too stubborn, and you can start to take things too personally.

I think this is where we differ from each other: if she has a problem with something or someone, she takes it on and fights. If I, as Elani, have a problem, I retreat, make myself smaller, and take on more of a self-protective energy.

This was actually the most difficult aspect of Katrien as a character for me – how open she is with her anger and her opinions. That's not how I act in my life, so it was difficult at times, but also wonderful, because it got me out of my comfort zone.

Stiaan says that one of his highlights of this project is that you sang in front of people for the first time in your life.

That’s true! I'm not a singer. If a group of people sing together in a car, I'll just hum. I don't sing in front of people.

I think I was just trying to convince myself that in post-production they would make it sound like I could sing (laughs). It was terrifying, and at the same time exciting and liberating. I think that's probably how people feel when they skydive!

I still can't sing, and I probably won't sing in front of people again, but I survived the experience and I'm glad I did it. It is definitely a personal highlight because it is something I would never have done otherwise.

What it was like to work with your fiancé as a director? Did you have to adjust your ways of working because you are also engaged?

It was like telling a story with your best friend, and playing and doing everything, except in the grown-up world. It was so fun, and such an incredible, precious experience to have with someone.

Of course, it was also a challenge, as it would be for anyone, to work with their fiancé. I do think we handled it very well and also enjoyed learning how to communicate and work together in this dynamic.

What stands out for you as a personal highlight of the project?

This project as a whole taught me one of the biggest and most valuable lessons, and it's something that Katrien also learns to some extent: we can all think differently and see the world differently. As long as you don't antagonize other people and make enemies of people who think differently or are different from you, there is always room for us to discover each other and find a middle ground.

Why should people watch the movie?

It's Afrikaans! It is something made for us in our language. And, although the themes are universal, they are made for South Africans and address many of our cultural themes.

I could relate to every character instantly. I feel as if I have met or know all of them somewhere in my life, and that is very special to me. I know these people are real people.

This is what makes Stiaan so good. He has the ability to observe what people do and then reproduce it in an entertaining way, as an honest reflection of society. Stiaan manages so well to tell stories that have depth and truth, but at the same time are also entertaining and just fun to watch.