The Smell of Apples (film)
| The Smell of Apples | |
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| Afrikaans | Die Reuk van Appels |
| Directed by | John Trengove |
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| Cinematography | Lennert Hillege |
| Edited by | Matthew Swanepoel |
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Running time | 104 minutes |
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The Smell of Apples (Afrikaans: Die Reuk van Appels) is an upcoming drama film co-written and directed by John Trengove. The film based on the 1993 book of the same name by Mark Behr follows a sheltered 11-year-old white South African boy, who gradually comes to realize the horrors of the apartheid system.[1][2][3]
The film will have its world premiere in the Platform section of the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival on 11 September 2026, where it will compete for the Platform Prize.[4]
Synopsis
[edit]11-year-old boy Marnus is living a protected, comfortable life in white South Africa during Apartheid in 1974. One summer, he tells his parents that the grandson of their family's domestic worker stole his fishing rod. The police respond with extreme violence and badly beat the boy. This incident begins a series of events that make Marnus see his father, a well-known army general, in a disturbing new way. Over the next five days, as painful events unfold, Marnus realizes that his family's perfect image hides hypocrisy, cruelty, and abuse.
Cast
[edit]- Dawian van der Westhuizen as Marnus
- Hilton Pelser as Johan
- Maude Sandham as Leonor
- Alejandro Goic as Mr. Smith
- Celeste Matthews Wannenburgh as Doreen
- Wian Carstens as Frikkie
- Karoline Watson as Ilse
- Inge Beckmann as Karla
- Courtlin Baron as Neville
Release
[edit]The Smell of Apples will have its world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival on 11 September 2026, in Platform section.[5][6]
Accolades
[edit]| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto International Film Festival | 12 September 2026 | Platform Prize | The Smell of Apples | Pending | [7][8] |
References
[edit]- ↑ "The Smell of Apples". BALDR Film. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "The Smell of Apples". Quijote Films. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "The Smell of Apples". TIFFR2. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ Ryan Lattanzio (21 July 2026). "TIFF Reveals Platform Lineup of 12 Films from the Next Generation of Auteurs". IndieWire. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "The Smell of Apples". Toronto International Film Festival. 21 July 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ Ntim, Zac (21 July 2026). "TIFF Platform: International Oscar Qualifying Competition Expands To 12 Films; Amma Asante Among Jury Members". Deadline. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ Pond, Steve (21 July 2026). "TIFF Adds 12 Films to Compete for Oscars' International Spot". TheWrap. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ Katz, David (22 July 2026). "Toronto announces its competitive Platform line-up". Cineuropa. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
External links
[edit]- The Smell of Apples at IMDb
- The Smell of Apples at AlloCiné (in French)
- Upcoming films
- 2026 films
- 2026 drama films
- South African drama films
- 2026 South African films
- Apartheid films
- Dutch drama films
- Chilean drama films
- 2020s Afrikaans-language films
- English-language South African films
- 2020 South African films
- Films set in 1974
- Films set in South Africa
- Works about apartheid in South Africa