THE RETIREMENT
GENRE: DRAMA
FORMAT: FEATURE FILM 110mins
LOGLINE:
A celebrated porn star past his prime tries to salvage his expiring career by attending Sexpo in Durban, when he is involved in a car accident that leaves a nine-year-old girl orphaned.
BRIEF SYNOPSIS:
A celebrated African French porn star past his prime, MISSISSIPPI, refuses to acknowledge his upcoming retirement and in a last-ditch attempt to salvage his career, his manager arranges an exhibition world tour at the world’s biggest sex shows. His first show is at the annual Sexpo convention in Durban, South Africa. After his second show at Sexpo, Mississippi is involved in a car accident, wherein a homeless woman and a young girl are injured. The destitute mother later dies in the hospital from her injuries, leaving her daughter orphaned. He decides to stay in Durban, despite objections from his manager and uses the sudden free time to see the city. On one of his exploratory wanderings, Mississippi finds the little girl from the accident sleeping on the street and takes her to the hospital.
BUHLE, a social worker arrives and informs Mississippi of the child, NONKULULEKO’s frequent disappearance from foster homes. Mississippi agrees to watch Nonku for a few days, after much pleading from Buhle, with advice on how to live with the temperamental child. Mississippi changes his behaviour over the following days to accommodate the erratic Nonku, who slowly responds positively to his efforts. This all changes when Mississippi is informed of his expiring visitor visa and ends up getting deported. Once back home, Mississippi gets a role in an upcoming film and throws himself into his work, seemingly forgetting things of Durban. Mississippi receives an unexpected call from Buhle, who accuses Mississippi of being a sexual predator and vows to keep Nonku away from him. Mississippi leaves for Durban the following day to start legally adopting Nonku and gaining his South African citizenship. When the case is taken to court, Buhle uses Mississippi’s career against him, which drives him to tell the court of his troubled past as an orphaned child and the fatherly love he’s developed for Nonku. A sickly Nonku is brought into the courtroom later on and charges towards Mississippi upon seeing him, clinging onto him for dear life as she cries painfully. (In development)
