OnScreen: Leaving Neverland -a dark, difficult series to watch

Did he or did he not do it?

FOR the millions that grew up to Micheal Jackson’s music especially from the release of the world’s best-selling album Thriller on 30 November 1982 until his death on June 25 2009, – the documentary Leaving Neverland must have left many of these viewers struggling what to believe.

The main attraction and discussion subject for MultiChoice subscribers last weekend was ‘Leaving Neverland’. It is universally accepted that public figures are allowed to get away with unethical acts when they are popular often. Recent stories lately that come to mind are of musician R Kelly, and comedian Bill Cosby. They have shown that when it comes to celebrities the relationship between smoke and fire usually holds.

Founder & Director of the documentary, Dan Reed says his film was created to demonstrate that the singer was different from his “Peter Pan-ish image” The details are still appalling, but what some viewers would want to see and hear in Reed’s riveting and sharply convincing four-hour documentary, “Leaving Neverland” supplies the viewer with an unexpected measure of calm. Even the outrage feels at last like the real deal, instead of the manufactured by-product of celebrity tabloids.

The documentary has been described as a radically empathetic film about the resonating impact of sexual abuse, as well as the personal and social forces that conspire to keep people from talking about it in public. The documentary feels like a conversation-realigning milestone.

The Jackson Estate has since denounced the film as a ‘pathetic attempt to cash in on Micheal Jackson.’ The King of Pop’s estate has been challenging the documentary, arguing that it is not factual, and was character assassination they files a US$100 million law suit against HBO.

However it is vividly amazing how a seven year old can have a clear recollection of what transpired then at Neverland.  It also seem Micheal was alone or rather lonely and closer to ‘strangers’ in this documentary. There is no mention of visit or any recollection about his family mentioned.

Unlike Lifetime’s recent Surviving R. Kelly, Leaving Neverland does not need to make an airtight case against a wealthy pop-music legend who still has access to vulnerable young fans. Yet it’s the absence of that active threat if not a competing narrative from the Jackson estate and a few obsessive fans that frees up Reed to focus on a wider-ranging inquiry into what it means to be a survivor.

Leaving Neverland is not balanced, not by any standard. It is, however, some describing it as a devastating testament to how childhood sexual abuse rages like a ferocious cancer through survivors and their families.

At times Leaving Neverland feels more like a deposition than a documentary, given we’re hearing from only one side, again and again. But Lord does that side present a convincing case.

Leaving Neverland feels long and one could argue a tighter two-hour film would have been equally effective. It just might not have reflected the truth they want to tell. … It’s all complicated and heart-breaking and just as their perspectives are not the same today as when they were pre-teens or in their twenties, it’s doubtful you’ll feel exactly the same after watching four hours of Leaving Neverland.

Soccer season coming to an end

The Premier League season is set for a frantic conclusion at both ends of the table, with the battle for the title, top four and relegation set to go down to the wire. The same cannot be said about LaLiga or Seria A. Juventus in Italy and Barcelona in Spain are set to win their respective leagues. MultiChoice has ensured that all matches are screened live keeping viewers on their toes. With the Premier League title likely to be decided between Manchester City and Liverpool, the race to finish third and fourth is on a knife-edge as Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all have a chance to secure an all-important Champions League spot.

Zee World is a popular soap in Zimbabwe.

The soap of the moment

Zee World is arguably the most popular soap in Zimbabwe. (especially to woman and children) It is was very timely then that MultiChoice this week announced the world premiere of Mehek, the first Zee World production to star actors from the African continent.

The landmark series, which was shot entirely in India, will premiere on Saturday, 6 April at 8:00pm on Zee World (DSTV Channel 166).

The movie introduces African actors including Shonisani Masutha, Kamogelo Mogale, Ndaba ka Ngwane and Nomava Kibare to Zee World viewers across Sub Sahara Africa.

Mehek is the story of a young girl from Delhi, India whose love for cooking is closely tied to her mother’s memories, Shaurya (Karan Vohra), a rich and arrogant, restaurateur, and Eddie Gabela (Ndaba ka Ngwane), a successful businessman from Africa who moves to Delhi with his family.

“Mehek represents an important and evolutionary part of Zee World’s commitment to providing relevant, exciting and innovative content to its viewers.

“Zee is proud of this production and of our African actors; furthermore, it will undoubtedly set a strong foundation for similar productions in the future,” says Harish Goyal, CEO, Zee Entertainment Africa & Asia Pacific.

Also commenting on the premiere, Ratna Siriah, the Business Head, Zee Entertainment Africa says: “The decision to develop a Bollywood production with African actors stemmed from Zee World’s unequivocal success in Africa and the love showered by our audiences for the channel.

“Zee World has enjoyed tremendous growth throughout the years and Mehek was the obvious next step.”