The film’s storyline revolves around two estranged brothers, one stable and the other anything but, after being split 35 years ago after their parents were murdered. Matias was six years old and Dias was still in his mother’s womb. Matias was fortunate and was adopted by a well-off family, who gave him a stable and loving upbringing. Dias was less fortunate, and was in and out of orphanages and trouble most of his life. Both brothers decided to serve their country, Matias (Raul Rosario) now a general in the military, and Dias (Paulo Americano) a commander of the DNIC, a special unit of the Angolan police force.

While Matias has moved on from his parent’s murder, it has become an obsession with Dias, who is now a deep depression, which he nurses with alcohol. When Matias meets Thandi (Nompilo Gwala), he begins a loving and connected relationship. Dias is attracted to Celia (Neide Vieira), a fellow officer, but he is unable to cross the line fearing any emotion a possible relationship might bring. Celia will eventually betray Dias in a way he could not have seen coming.

When the two brothers are forced to work together to take down a major drug operation, they discover the man behind the drug empire is Ferreira (Rapulana Seiphemo), the same man that murdered their parents all those years ago.

Dias begins this journey wanting only one thing – to kill Ferreira, regardless of his oath to uphold the law. Matias wants only justice and has to keep his brother in check. When Ferreira sends assassins to kill both Dias and Matias, they are forced to reconcile their differences, and ultimately learn that blood is thicker than water.

It is directed by Chris Roland and Maradona Dias Dos Santos, and stars David O’ Hara, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Rapulana Seiphemo, Neide Vieira and Nompilo Gwala, alongside Angolan actors Paulo Americano and Raul Rosario. It will officially hit our Netflix screens on 28 August 2020. 

Its storyline is also what makes it even more intriguing, became aware of this once I did some research on it. According to this post on Cape Talk online, director and co-writer, Shane Vermooten said that “the movie deals with the problem of underground organ trafficking.” If that’s not enough to get you interested then maybe the below might.

Cast – Natalie Becker, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Greg Kriek, Deon Lotz, Shoki Mokgapa & Matthew Dylan Roberts

Director – Shane Vermooten

Genre – Thriller

Running Time – 1h 32m

The Plot

Officially in cinemas tomorrow, the premise for Bypass is set around Cape Town’s top cardiac surgeon Dr. Lisa Miller who is faced with the devastating news that the last chance for her son’s liver transplant has been destroyed. When presented with the alternative of using an illegal organ transplant, she ignores reason, willing to do whatever it takes to save the life of her only son. Secretly she takes Sam to Jalloh Africa. Once locked behind the derelict walls of the New Life Clinic she discovers the full extent of an international black market organ syndicate, that harvests organs from poor and vulnerable donors, selling them for profit to desperate often wealthy recipients.

The movie is a great idea in trying to get a message across, more people need to be organ donors, that’s very commendable especially when you consider (according to what I heard whilst watching) that less than 2% of people are registered organ donors in South Africa, something that might now improve as a result of countless efforts by the Organ Donor Foundation, this flick included.

I’m not going to lie, it really was a difficult one to watch and not in a good way.

Now, as for the movie itself and from a general watch, I’m not going to lie, it really was a difficult one to watch and not in a good way. What started out as an OK and promising start quickly turned into a not so great watch…to put it politely. Bypass is all over the place and most parts feel very forced and awkward which eventually led to me becoming very confused by it all. It has a lot of holes and stuff that just doesn’t add up across the different scenes. It’s sad especially since the level of movie making locally is improving – Bypass just isn’t it I’m afraid, not by a long shot.

Definitely not the best movie I’ve watched and to be honest it might have made the list of the worst I’ve watched. The idea behind it is admirable but the overall execution could have been done way better. Sadly it wasn’t great and for once I can’t see a reason to recommend it, however, surprisingly, some (at the screening) really enjoyed it so it may be a personal thing. It gets a very disappointing 1 out 5 rating from me.