Paljas (1998): cast, story & where to watch
1998 · Film · ★ 7.2
Released in 1998, Paljas is a drama film directed by Katinka Heyns, running about 119 minutes.
What it’s about. The greatest feature to emerge thus far from South Africa (since 1994) is Katinka Heyns's Paljas. The narrative occurs in the 1960s, when poverty amongst Afrikaners was a serious problem and the South African Railway a key mechanism in Afrikaner affirmative action. This excellent Afrikaans language drama follows the deterioration of an Afrikaner family isolated and shunned in the small community of Toorwater. Nothing seems to happen. Then a circus train loses its way and comes to rest in Toorwater, and a mysterious clown brings fresh magic to the stagnating family, but he also poses a threat to the rest of the community. Heyns brilliantly succeeds in creating a metaphor for the Afrikaner family's turbulent emotional, cultural and ideological journey from the darkness of apartheid back into the light of post-apartheid reconciliation (famililial, cultural and political).
Who’s in it. Paljas stars Marius Weyers as Hendrik MacDonald, Aletta Bezuidenhout as Katrina MacDonald, Liezel van der Merwe as Emma MacDonald and Larry Leyden as Willem MacDonald, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.2/10, Paljas has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Paljas page.
If you liked it. Fans of Paljas tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Paljas (1998)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Paljas change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Paljas worth watching?
- Paljas holds an audience score of 7.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Paljas?
- Paljas stars Marius Weyers, Aletta Bezuidenhout, Liezel van der Merwe, Larry Leyden and Jan Ellis.
- When was Paljas released?
- Paljas was released in 1998, with a runtime of about 119 minutes.