The coming-of-age love story, set in 1925, follows 17-year-old orphan Lucy Gladwell who is sent from England to live under the guardianship of her uncle George Huyton.
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FIVE FINGERS FOR MARSEILLES
Synopsis
Lives change forever when Tau, the young lion, kills two corrupt policemen in a South African shanty town.
Challenge
Shooting in a remote location at high altitudes with fluctuating weather conditions and limited resources.
Approach
Five Fingers for Marseilles was filmed on the edge of the Maloti Mountains at an altitude of 2,000m (6,561 ft) in the dead of winter.
The crew adhered to a gruelling shoot schedule under extreme conditions: lack of water, freezing temperatures, snow, blocked roads, and little to no electricity or cellphone reception.
Securing the logistical stability of the production was paramount, with a strong focus on transport, unit operations, and housing. Relationships with town stakeholders, local farmers, and community representatives were established several months in advance to ensure the required level of support.
The crew were accommodated in private residences, and catering teams travelled over 300km (186 miles) daily to stock up on fresh supplies. Extensive planning was necessary to maneuver equipment, props and supplies to peak locations.
Farmers provided backup tractors to assist in recovering trapped vehicles, while the crew became adept at navigating various climatic challenges, from protecting equipment to frequent schedule changes.
Key information
Years in the making:
7
Years of casting:
5
Weeks spent shooting:
4
Kilometres travelled during scouting:
8k
Lowest temperature shoot day:
-8°C
Results
- Five Fingers for Marseilles premiered to rave reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival.
- It was the first contemporary African Western to be shot in South Africa.
- The film was released theatrically in the US and South Africa, and was one of the first South African films to be widely available across multiple platforms globally.
NR. 1/3
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