Dilemma (1962) - The Big Sound Film Festival

Around 1960, Englishman Toby Hood comes to Johannesburg to run a publishing company. He is open-minded and befriends people with different social ranks, but the harsh realities of society force him to make a choice about friendships. The film features a stunning soudtrack by legendary pianist and composer Gideon Nxumalo, who also features as a character in the film. Other appearances include Zakes Mokae, Evelyn Frank, Kippie Moeketsi, and Mackay Davashe.

Directed by Henning Carlsen, based on a story written by Nadine Gordimer.

Word of Mouth and Surplus Radical Bookshop are proud to present The Big Sound Film Festival, a month-long celebration of South African Jazz and Resistance, taking place every Monday in November at the Bertha House Bioscope, Mowbray.

Running from 3 – 24 November 2025, the festival will feature a powerful lineup of documentary and narrative films that spotlight the rich and often underrepresented legacy of South African jazz and its intersections with political resistance and memory.

Event Details:

Venue: Bertha House Bioscope, Mowbray

Dates: Every Monday — 3, 10, 17, 24 November 2025

Time: 6:30 PM

Admission: All screenings free to attend, with RSVP required via Quicket.

For media inquiries, partnerships, or more information, please contact:

[email protected]

Follow @wordofmouthonline.co.za on Instagram and Surplus Radical Bookshop on Facebook for updates and surprises.

Presented by:

Word of Mouth & Surplus Radical Bookshop

The Big Sound Film Festival - South African Jazz and Resistance