VADERTJIE LANGBEEN (DVD)

This early South African drama is about Trudie, a feisty schoolgirl whose life is changed when Jacques de Villiers, a 30-year-old millionaire, decides to send an orphan to university. He visits the orphanage where Trudie has lived her whole life and, after overhearing her talk fearlessly to one of the directors, decides on her. Not wanting Trudies gratitude, he leaves before she can thank him.

Trudie calls her mysterious benefactor Vadertjie Langbeen (Daddy-Long-Legs). She writes to him weekly about life at university. Jacques eventually meets her, but Trudie is convinced Vadertjie Langbeen is nice, bald, and old. Jacques and Trudie have wonderful times together, until a misunderstanding involving another suitor makes him leave town. Trudie is distraught. This time, she wont write to Vadertjie Langbeen about her troubles shell visit him instead. Watch out for a fine performance by a very young Patrick Mynhardt as a playboy.