Zen couple in the Western Cape

Broadcast date: Sunday 17-9-2006 14:03 ned. 2
Repeat: Saterday 23-9-2006 09:45 ned. 2
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Nine years ago, the couple Heila and Rodney Downey decided to establish a Zen Dharma Centre in Robertson in the Western Cape. They both had had very succesfull jobs: Rodney was manager of a big clothing franchise in South Africa, Heila had been a counsillor; They had the pool, the mercedes, everything they could wish for, and yet there was always this question: "Is this all there is to life?"

They had both attended a Zen retreat, and then suddenly something 'clicked': this is what they needed to do with their lives: practice Zen, and helping others.
Once a week Heila and Rodney drive to Malmesbury prison where they give meditation lessons to a group of about 15 prisoners. The camera follows Unathi, a young black man from the township Guguletu, who has been in prison for ten years now.

When Unathi was 18 years old, he attended a traditional initiation ceremony in his township. Friends and family were drinking, partying and then there was this fight, where Unathi killed another young man, and he was convicted for murder. Now, after ten years, we see how Unathi is being released and we follow him on his way to Robertson, where he will stay with Heila and Rodney for a few months. We also see Heila working at the Victim support centre at the local police station.

Director, camera, editing: Renée Scheltema
With: Heila and Rodney Downey, Unathi Sigenu, Johan Stander
Commissioning Editor: Babeth M. VanLoo
Sound: Mpo Mofokeng/ Final Edit: Geert Braam
Many thanks to: Department of Correctional Services Western Cape, Robertson Police Station, Dharma Centre Robertson and Rondebosch. Westerford School.