Rachel Kolisi drew a packed house at KuGompo City's Guild Theatre on Tuesday night as she brought her deeply personal documentary, Falling Forward, to the city. The screening offered audiences an opportunity to hear Kolisi's story and connect with other women, with local entrepreneurs and musicians also taking centre stage during the evening. The event was part of Kolisi's national roadshow, which began in March and has taken her documentary to several cities across South Africa.
The documentary is not available for streaming and can only be watched at tour screenings, making each event an opportunity for audiences to experience it together. By 5pm, crowds had begun flocking to the venue to watch the film, with the theatre's foyer becoming a gathering place for attendees ahead of the screening. The evening's programme went beyond simply watching a film, providing an opportunity for local entrepreneurs and performers to showcase their talents.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch while engaging with those in attendance, Kolisi said the idea for the documentary grew from a difficult period in her own life and the response she received from women who reached out to share their experiences. She expressed her desire to see women in leadership positions and encouraged women to connect, network, and have safe spaces where they can live and enjoy.
Several stalls showcasing women-owned small businesses were set up in the theatre's foyer, giving local entrepreneurs an opportunity to introduce their products and services to those attending the event. The stalls added a practical element to the evening's focus on women supporting women, providing a space for business owners to connect with potential customers and promote their work.
Performances by the Clarendon Girls' High School choir and South African musician Anika Kiana entertained attendees ahead of the documentary screening. The combination of music, entrepreneurship, and storytelling reflected the broader purpose of the roadshow, which Kolisi hopes will encourage women to connect with one another and create opportunities beyond the screenings themselves.
Kolisi said the response to the tour had exceeded her expectations, particularly given her initial uncertainty about whether audiences would turn out to watch the documentary. She expressed her gratitude to the attendees and highlighted the impact the tour has had so far. She hoped to build a movement in which people could connect openly while creating more opportunities for women to take up leadership roles across different sectors.
For Kolisi, the roadshow is also about ensuring that other women have opportunities to tell their own stories and share their experiences with wider audiences. Rather than keeping the focus solely on her own journey, she hopes the platform created through Falling Forward will provide a starting point for more women to make their voices heard. Kolisi aims to hand the mic over to other women and share their stories and journeys.
Key points
- Rachel Kolisi's documentary, Falling Forward, is part of a nationwide roadshow celebrating women and their shared experiences.
- The documentary is not available for streaming and can only be watched at tour screenings.
- The roadshow aims to encourage women to connect with one another and create opportunities beyond the screenings themselves.
