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M-Net premieres intriguing new South African drama Desert Rose

News
28 April 2022
A homespun tale of good vs evil.
desert rose

When Eben Greyling, the young son of an absent father refuses a request from the family’s benefactor Van As to go fishing, it breaks the shackles of a long-time agreement – but the debt will not disappear. Someone has to pay. The consequences of the broken agreement set off a series of escalating events as the family is forced to confront the mayhem that is sent their way. And they are up for it! 

Set on a remote farm in the Northern Cape, Desert Rose is an evocative, emotional, quirky, and cinematic new family-centered drama premiering on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) on 2 June. The eight-part drama mixes black comedy, suspense, crime, romance, sexiness, and music while focusing on the unlikely reconnecting of a father and his children.

Sandilands (The Flash, Sweet Tooth, The 100) is joined by an impressive ensemble cast of celebrated as well as up-and-coming actors including Amalia Uys (7de Laan, Spoorloos); Kai Luke Brümmer (Moffie, The Kissing Booth); Christia Visser (Die Boekklub); Tinarie van Wyk Loots (recently seen in another M-Net series, Recipes for Love and Murder); Daniah de Villiers (Kompleks); Brendan Daniels (Four Corners, Five Fingers for Marseilles); comedian Ben Voss (Spud); comedian Tracey-Lee Oliver (Blitz Patrollie, Dream Girls); vocalist and actress Inge Beckmann (Trackers, Escape Room);  Danny Ross (Suidooster, Arendsvlei); Roeline Daneel (Die Boekklub, Krotoa); Craig Urbani (Legacy, The Last Days of American Crime); Melt Sieberhagen (Raised by Wolves, District 9) and David Viviers (Tali’s Baby Diary, Black Sails).

Desert Rose tells the story of the disenfranchised and the forgotten in a desert town through the Greyling family. Emotional and rooted in character, it is a love letter to the misfit; to loss, loneliness, and eccentricity; to broken relationships – and to South Africa itself. Inspired by Americana – highways, diners, and gas stations – and thorny family drama with a quirky heart, prepare to explore the crossroads where the ordinary meets the extraordinary.

Desert Rose is a treat of a series filled with the most unusual characters and wonderful performances. 

Produced by Quizzical Pictures, it is directed by Cindy Lee (The Girl from St Agnes) and written by award-winning screenwriter and showrunner Rohan Dickson (ReykaHuskWelcome to Hawaii). 

Desert Rose premieres on M-Net (DStv channel 101) on Thursday 2 June at 20:30. The series will be available on Catch Up.