The story of Ellen

Ellen Pakkies life has never been easy and her story makes you realise that most of us are just ungrateful sometime.

Ellen: Die Storie van Ellen Pakkie is the one must-watch Afrikaans-movie of the year, because each scene has something so heartbreaking and beautiful. The movie is unlike anything I have watched before, but maybe it is because the film is based on a true story.

Based in the Cape Flats, Ellen’s story is about a mother who had to endure various kinds of hell since the age of four. Things just get more complicated when her youngest son, Abie, becomes a victim of drug abuse. Ellen makes a choice to have a little peace for once in her life, but a lot of people are against it.

Ellen and Abie’s story made headlines all over the world when it happened and the film clearly highlights what actually happened behind the scenes. It is a story of self-forgiveness and redemption. It shows how lonely someone can be, while they are surrounded by many.

Everyone can relate to a piece of Allen or Abie’s story and that is what makes the movie worth the watch. The writers and director knew how to balance between the before and after scenes, although they could have used different angles to differentiate between the two timelines.

The cast is excellent and they truly carry over the emotions of each character. Certain actors however struggled to keep to their accent, but this can easily be missed. Each scene of Ellen is heartbreaking, but at the end of the day you will understand both sides of the story.

My Verdict

I recommend this movie for everyone, but especially the youth and mother’s who struggle with their children daily. This movie can be used as a lesson and it can easily open your eyes to things the young people and their parents face. I will definitely watch the movie for a second time, like I said it is definitely one of the best Afrikaans films of 2018.

Rating: 9.7/10 – Masterpiece