Die Boekklub
| Die Boekklub | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Louis Pretorius |
| Directed by |
|
| Starring | Armand Aucamp Christia Visser Jana Cilliers |
| Music by | Braam du Toit |
| Country of origin | South Africa |
| Original language | Afrikaans |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 36 |
| Production | |
| Producers |
|
| Cinematography | Jorrie van der Walt Fahema Hendricks Marc Degenaar |
| Editors | Leon Visser Eva du Preez |
| Original release | |
| Network | kykNET |
Die Boekklub is an Afrikaans-language South African drama series that originally aired on kykNET from 2016 to 2021. It was created by Quenting Krog and Louis Pretorius and chronicles the personal lives of members of a book club, including actors Armand Aucamp, Christia Visser and Jana Cilliers. It is set and partly filmed in Merweville in the Karoo, and has been a driver of tourism in the town.[1][2]
Synopsis
In Merweville, a quiet, unassuming dorpthe warmth of community is kept alive through more than just hospitality, it thrives in a book club that has endured for 25 years. Started by the late Bettie, a woman who believed deeply in the power of stories, the club continues to bring together a group of passionate readers led by Bettie's close friends and her grandson, a Cape Town writer, Tom Niemandt. Their reading choices spark conversations, reveal hidden tensions, and uncover unexpected adventures in their everyday lives.[1]
Cast
- Armand Aucamp as Tom Niemandt, a writer from Cape Town that moves to Merweville to concentrate on his writing and run the bed and breakfast left to him by his grandmother, Bettie.
- Christia Visser as Lillie Human, a photographer and granddaughter of Jan and Anna
- Jana Cilliers as Anna Uys, a herbalist, wife of Jan and grandmother of Lillie
- Paul du Toit as Gert Grobler, butcher of Merweville and widower
- Arno Marais as Herman Mouton, friend of Tom's in Cape Town and partner of Altus
- Stian Bam as Altus, a farmer that comes out as gay and develops a relationship with Herman
- Nicole Holm as Hanli Oberholzer, a farmer's wife
- Lee-Ann van Rooi as Gerwin Goliath, a schoolteacher
- June van Merch as Sofia Matthews, co-runs the bed and breakfast with Tom
- De Klerk Oelofse as Louwrens, a local cop
- Anrich Herbst as Johan
- Tessa Denton as Isabel, a doctor and Tom's girlfriend after Lillie moves to Euroe
- Antoinette Kellermann as Gertruida
- Pierre van Pletzen as Piet Smit
- Pietie Beyers as John, friend of Tom
- Nicole Fortuin as Julia
- Margit Meyer-Rödenbeck as Vera Klopper
Broadcast
The series was first broadcast by kykNET, an Afrikaans television channel, in 2016.[3] The series made a surprise return in 2021 for a third season, which was set in the future, in 2024.[4]
Reception
The first season garnered critical acclaim and won two South African Film and Television Awards in 2017 for Best Achievement in Scriptwriting and Best Supporting Actress in a TV drama (Cilliers).[5]
In a 2020 column in the Daily Maverick, Oscar van Heerden addressed the second season, praising the characters and writing, concluding that it is a "marvellous series."[1]
References
- ^ a b c van Heerden, Oscar (19 May 2020). Lost in the Karoo as ‘Die Boekklub’ takes us into the heart of platteland South Africa Daily Maverick. Retrieved on 24 August 2025
- ^ (28 August 2024). Merweville, part two – Karoo Nougat Central Daily Maverick. Retrieved on 24 August 2025
- ^ (20 November 2015). Exciting new Afrikaans drama series to play off in the heart of the Karoo News24. Retrieved on 24 August 2025
- ^ (21 January 2021). Die Boekklub Season 3 | The hit local show about a book club in a small Karoo town makes a surprising return News24. Retrieved on 24 August 2025
- ^ (31 March 2017). This delightful local show about a book club is stealing hearts and receiving critical acclaim News24. Retrieved on 24 August 2025
External links
- Die Boekklub at IMDb