This character, in spite of his financial failure and stubbornness in not planting one viable crop, is depicted with much sympathy and the viewer is thus manipulated into favouring the character that seems to work in opposition, albeit a minor one, to this cornerstone of colonialism. He realises that British flowers (represented here by bougainvillea, which is in any case a South American plant) have no place on African land and even plants trees just to keep his soil fertile. Turner, on the other hand, displays understanding towards the land. He is financially successful but is not depicted with much sympathy in the film – he is merely a ruthless stereotype who eventually tries to manipulate Turner into handing over the ownership of his farm. Meuller simply abuses his land, growing large crops and moving on once the land is unusable. There are two extensions of this concept in The Grass is Singing, represented by the two neighbouring farmers Charlie Meuller (Patrick Mynhardt) and Dick Turner. The land was removed from the Africans’ possession and given to farmers to cultivate crops. Firstly, colonies were food sources for the European country that governed the African country of the time. The setting of this film contextualises two problematic issues of colonialism.
She seeks solace in one of the farm workers, Moses (John Kani), who decides that the only freedom for Mary is in death. The harsh living conditions, the heat and the workers on the farm are difficult for her to accept and, after a few years, drive her insane. Life on the farm is a complex adaptation for her. She literally marries the next man she sees, a hard working farmer, Dick Turner (John Thaw). The plot deals with the a woman from a small African town, Mary (Karen Black), who overhears her friends say that she will never find anyone to marry her. Michael Raeburn’s adaptation of Doris Lessing’s 1950 novel, The Grass is Singing, is fairly faithful to its original source material. Through the settings of both films in colonial Africa, both presented via flashbacks in the 1950s and 1960s, the filmmakers have been able to comment on social issues and perceptions regarding this form of economic, social and cultural control, particularly in the context of the female situation during that era. In 2016 Kani received the national honour of the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver, for his “Excellent contributions to theatre and, through this, the struggle for a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa.The two African films The Grass is Singing (1981, also known as Killing Heat) and Chocolat (1988) place the element of setting in the foreground as a basis for the elements of plot, character and theme.Avanti Hall of Fame Award from the South African film, television and advertising industries, an M-Net Plum award and a Clio award in New York.2010: Life Time award during the SAFTA Awards.2000: Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation Award.Captain America: Civil War (2016) – T’Chaka.In Darkest Hollywood: Cinema and Apartheid (1993) (Non-fiction).The Native Who Caused All the Trouble (1989).“Master Harold”…and the Boys (1985) (TV).The Tempest (2008) (actor in the role of Caliban, at the Baxter Theatre, Cape Town Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon and tour of Richmond, Leeds, Bath, Nottingham, Sheffield).Nothing But the Truth (2002) (sole playwright).Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act (co-authored with Athol Fugard and Winston Ntshona).The Island (1973) (co-authored with Athol Fugard and Winston Ntshona).Sizwe Banzi is Dead (1972) (co-authored with Athol Fugard and Winston Ntshona).He is married to Mandi Kani and he has a son named Atandwa who is also an actor. As of 2021, he is 78 years old and celebrates his birthday on August 30th every year. He was born on the 30th of August 1943 in New Brighton, Eastern Cape, South Africa. John is also currently an executive trustee of the Market Theatre Foundation, director of the Market Theatre Laboratory and chairman of the National Arts Council of South Africa. He currently stars as Mkhuseli Mthetho in the Mzansi Magic telenovela Inkaba between 20.