Christmas Clothes premieres on Showmax on Friday, 6 December 2024
• Directed by Athi Petela (M’tase Khaya, Thato Ya Modimo, Lingashoni)
MediaSync delivers all the festive feels to Showmax this December with Christmas Clothes, set in Soweto on Christmas Eve.
The heartwarming comedy stars Omhle Tshabalala (Scandal!) as Nqubeko, a teenager who goes on a quest to reclaim his stolen Christmas clothes from a neighbourhood bully, played by Tshepo Mohale.
Mpumelelo Magaga and Alex Tivani co-star as Benny and Small, with SAFTA winner Thami Mngqolo (Generations, Isono, Muvhango) and Khanya Sosibo (Generations: The Legacy, The Estate) as Nqubeko’s parents.
“Christmas clothes have been a thing for South Africans for a long time,” says director Athi Petela (M’tase Khaya, Thato Ya Modimo, Lingashoni). “So the film is extremely nostalgic. It’s love, it’s laughter, it’s community. It’s literally a movie for everybody.”
For Tshepo, landing the role of Mzukulu felt like Christmas came early. “Yoooh, the first time hearing the news that I was going to be part of Christmas Clothes, it was unbelievable,” says the 12-year-old. “Yoh, I was very, very, very, very happy. I was surprised because it was going to be my first time to shoot a film.”
Being on set lived up to his hopes. “I like the way the director and producers treated me; I felt so special, like I’m the VIP person. It was a great experience.”
There’s no snow or mistletoe to be seen in Christmas Clothes, which rather leans into what makes Christmas in South Africa special.
For Omhle, that’s the people. “Christmas, for me, is all about family – bonding, spending time together, and making memories,” he says.
Beyond the laughter and nostalgia, we asked the young cast what they hoped viewers would take away from the film.
“Don’t bully others,” says Tshepo. “Just be cool with everyone and play with other children. Don’t let friends mislead you. Mzukulu’s friends supported his bad behaviour, like bullying, when they should have steered him in the right direction.”
“Be a good friend, like Nqubeko,” says Omhle. “Stand up to your friends’ bullies if your friends are too scared to.”
“Be calm, kind and always stay true to yourself,” says Alex.
“True friendship can conquer anything, as long as you promise to stick together,” says Mpumelelo. “Inclusion is also really, really important because we are all different but at the end of the day we have the same blood running in our skins. What’s important is for us not to judge each other but to listen to each other’s stories.”
Watch the Christmas Clothes trailer here:
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