Karabo Lediga makes a striking directorial debut with SABBATICAL, a gripping and grounded drama that weaves ambition, family tension, and buried personal reckonings into something deeply South African and universally human.
Produced by Diprente, the same studio that brought us Catching Feelings and Matwetwe, SABBATICAL follows Lesego (Mona Monyane) a corporate high-flyer poised to become the next CEO of powerhouse financial firm LouwFin. Her momentum stalls when she’s named in a scandal involving the looting of a miner’s pension fund, and just like that, the sharp suits and boardroom bravado are replaced by silence and stillness. Forced to return home to Pretoria, Lesego must confront her past, her people, and the painful cost of upward mobility.
A Film Is Layered And Deliberate
The film is layered and deliberate, walking the tightrope between high-stakes drama and the humour found in awkward reunions, old friends, and neighbourhood gossip. At the heart of it is a mother-daughter relationship that refuses to stay on the surface. Clementine Mosimane delivers a raw, unflinching performance as Doris, the matriarch who fought for Lesego’s place in the world, only to watch her fall. Their scenes together are taut, tender, and at times, brutal in their honesty.
Loyiso Gola steps out of his comedic comfort zone and into something colder and more clinical, playing Percy Mthimkhulu, the no-nonsense investigator determined to unravel the truth. His performance is controlled and refreshing, showing off a side of Gola we haven’t seen onscreen before.
SABBATICAL balances emotional depth
Set in Pretoria and soaked in Spitori, SABBATICAL balances emotional depth with moments of levity, familiar faces from the stokvel circle, nosy neighbours, and high school sweethearts add texture and cultural specificity that feels lived-in, not performative.
Visually, the film is stunning. Cinematographer Motheo Moeng (Queen Sono, Matwetwe) captures both the sterility of boardrooms and the intimacy of home spaces with equal precision. Add to that a soulful, jazz-leaning score by Bokani Dyer, and SABBATICAL becomes not just a story, but a feeling
There’s no rush, just a steady
The film’s pacing, shaped by editor Khulekani Zondi, moves with confidence. There’s no rush, just a steady, deliberate unwinding of a life that seemed perfect on the outside.
Rounding out the cast are industry heavyweights and exciting new talent alike: Seputla Sebogodi, Tsholofelo Maseko, Craig Urbani, Masello Motana, Tinah Mnumzana, and others make up a rich ensemble that brings authenticity to every frame.
Opening in cinemas on 09 May, perfectly timed for Mother’s Day weekend, SABBATICAL is a film that invites grown-up families to reflect, reconnect, and maybe even forgive. It’s not just
