Season 1
Die Boekklub (The Book Club) is an Afrikaans-language South African television drama series created by Louis Pretorius about a city slicker who moves to a small Karoo town and despite his reservations finds an unlikely new family when he joins the local book club.
Life has a way of sometimes taking a strange turn. For Tom Niemandt (Armand Aucamp), it all begins with the death of his grandmother Betty, who leaves him her guest house in a small Karoo town called Merweville. He doesn't want the place! What should he do with it?
Unfortunately, it isn't his choice and he is forced to stay in the village. As a Cape hipster he can think of nothing worse. Things change, however, when he meets his grandmother's book club. And of course, the mysterious girl he meets in a field. What is she doing here, in the middle of nowhere?
The book club is an interesting group of people. There's Anna (Jana Cilliers), Tom's grandmother's best friend and herbalist; the friendly farmer Herman (Arno Marais), who is equally good at sheep shearing and playing the harmonica; Hanli (Nicole Holm), a happy woman who takes any opportunity to bake and who is incredibly proud of her children; and Gerwin (Lee-Ann van Rooi), a teacher at the primary school who has already bought her own home and who strives to empower the people - and especially the children - in the district.
There's also Gert (Paul du Toit) the butcher, a widower who enjoys jogging; Sofia (June van Merch), his grandmother's business partner, and then there is... Lillie (Christia Visser).
Before Tom knows it he has become part of the day-to-day events and machinations of the small town, and finds an unlikely home among the book club members. Together with them he begins a journey of self-discovery which irrevocably changes him.
The cast includes Armand Aucamp, Jana Cilliers, June of Merch, Christia Visser, Nicole Holm, Paul du Toit, Lee-Ann van Rooi, Arno Marais, Marcel van Heerden, Anrich Herbst and Louw Venter.
Die Boekklub was written by Louis Pretorius (co-author of Vallei van Sluiers and Die Boland Moorde) with Quentin Krog (Ballade vir 'n Enkeling and Sterlopers) as the director. Pretorius and Albert Snyman were the producers and music was by Braam du Toit. The supervising producer for kykNET was Marguerite Albrecht.
Filmed on location in Merweville, Die Boekklub was produced for kykNET by Moebius Films.
Season 1 Cast
(scroll to bottom for available actor bios)
Starring
Armand Aucamp ... Tom Niemandt
Jana Cilliers ... Anna Uys
Paul du Toit ... Gert Grobler
Nicole Holm ... Hanli Oberholzer
Arno Marais ... Herman Mouton
June van Merch ... Sofia Mathews
Lee-Ann van Rooi ... Gerwin Goliath
Christia Visser ... Lillie Human
Recurring / Guests
Lida Botha ... Bettie
Cedwyn Joel ... Tobias
Greta Pietersen ... Karlien
Marcel van Heerden ... Jan
Chris van Niekerk ... Stef
Tinarie van Wyk-Loots ... Jong Bettie
Louw Venter ... Altus
Johan Esterhuizen ... Hannes
Anrich Herbst ... Johan
Erica Wessels ... Nadia
Milan Murray ... Helen
Nina Swart ... Beatrix
Anthea Thompson ... Claire
Charles Tertiens ... Alex
Piet Beyers ... John
Louis Pretorius ... Gysie
Petrus du Preez ... Klasie
Nita Fourie ... Sarie
Johan Hattingh ... Dries
Ria Hattingh ... Marie
Roeline Daneel ... Petro
Chanelle de Jager ... Giselle
Hannah Borthwick ... Berta
Luka Geldenhuys ... Andre
Edwin van der Walt ... Chris
Bryan Robson ... Sean
Mareli Hattingh ... Beoordeelaar
Malan Steyn ... Beoordeelaar
Geon Nel ... Veerman Charon
Albert Snyman ... Piet
Vera-Lynn Makinnon ... Verpleegster
Noxolothelma Ximbi ... Verpleegster
Schalk van der Merwe ... Derrick
Regardt van den Bergh ... Hans
Esther von Waltsleben ... Klara