Daryne Joshua’s shocking tale of Ellen: The Story of Ellen Pakkies

Jill Levenberg as Ellen in The Story of Ellen

Ellen is based on true events and tells the story of a troubled relationship between a mother and her drug-addicted son, a relationship that eventually led to his murder. The film has the full approval of Ellen Pakkies, who still lives in the house where the murder took place. This well executed and hard-hitting film was an official selected for Seattle International Film Festival, Official Selection International Film Festival Rotterdam and stars the award winning South African actress Jill Levenberg and Jarid Geduld (Black Sails). Elle is in film theaters by 7th September 2018.

In 2007, the death of 20 year old Abie Pakkies created a stir in South Africa and the world. The most disturbing part of the case was that the murderer was his mother, Ellen. When advocate Adrian Samuels takes on the case, he is determined to prove that Ellen Pakkies had no choice. But what compelled her to stop seeking help? How does a mother become desperate enough to take her own son’s life?

Ellen ,Die Storie Van Ellen Pakkies Official Trailer from schalk-willem on Vimeo.

Told across two timelines, Ellen is the harrowing account of a woman put through the penal system, tried for murder and driven by an unflinching love for her son. It delves into the inner psyche of a family ravaged by drugs in one of the most dangerous communities in South Africa. A scourge that extends beyond the Cape Flats and highlights a systematic failure to protect the poorest of the poor.

Director Daryne Joshua‘s feature Noem My Skollie (Call Me Thief), was selected as the South African entrant to the 89th Oscar Academy Awards and was nominated for 7 African Academy Awards. He is most notably recognized for producing one of South Africa’s best loved and best rated South African soaps Suidooster.

Ellen was produced by Schalk-Willem Burger and Paulo Areal. Burger works at The Moving Billboard Picture Company and is best-known for his involvement in projects like Die Spook van Uniondale, Modder en Bloed, Mrs Right Guy and Liewe Kersfeesvader.

Paulo Areal is the managing director at The Moving Billboard Picture Company and has produced seven successful films including Looking for Love, Liewe Kersfeesvader, Five Fingers for Marseilles, Mrs Right Guy, Die Spook van Uniondale and A Lotto Madness.