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| Singer Jill Scott and actor Lucian Msamati star in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Gareth Hughes/Joy Sapieka Unit Publicist |
'Ladies' Detective' film brings Tinsel Town to tiny Botswana
Alexander McCall Smith's hit book series set in Botswana is bringing big-screen money the African country.
from the August 1, 2007 edition
Page 4 of 4
Scott gets out of the van and walks over to Msamati, talking in a perfect Botswana accent. Kgomotso Tshwenyego nods in approval.
Before the filming, Ms. Tshwenyego worked as a secretary at the University of Botswana. But after seeing an ad in the newspaper, she auditioned as a dialect coach for the crew. Minghella hired her.
"I told Anthony I didn't have any formal training," she says. "But that didn't bother him."
Now she works with the international actors, helping them widen their mouth and roll their Rs to sound local.
Other Botswana staffers have also vetted the script and costume designs, making sure that everything gives an accurate portrait of their country.
"Anyone who's watching this will have a good impression of life in Botswana," Tshwenyego says.
A positive, yet real, view of Africa
That is one of the aspects of this movie that appealed to Msamati, Scott's co-star. Although the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series has taken some criticism for being too sunny and for ignoring disease and war, Msamati, who grew up in Zimbabwe, says it's a relief to work on a production that shows a truer, happier picture of the continent.
"No story is the be all and end all – they're beginnings," he says. "And this is a fantastic beginning. There is not a single white character, no well-meaning Westerner trying to help Africa. These are positive images of Africa and Africans."
Having the movie shot in Botswana accentuates those feelings, he says.
"That gives me a sense of responsibility," he says. "I must do it justice."
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