Variations on a Theme
7.0
An elderly goat herder falls victim to a scam promising long-awaited reparations for her father's WWII service. Structured as a series of recurring visual 'variations', Variations on a Theme is a portrait of endurance and loss.
Where to watch
Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
Your rating
Your review
Cast
8 people
Hettie Farmer
Hettie
No other roles listed
Gladwin van Niekerk
Gladwin
Also in
Carissa
Magdalena Links
Hettie's Neighbour
No other roles listed
Regan Nontas
Digger
No other roles listed
Albertus Smit
Sleeping Man
No other roles listed
Helen Jacobs
Hettie's Daughter
No other roles listed
Jason Jacobs
Narrator / Petrus Jakobus Beukes
Elton Landrew
Fund Representative
Known for
Trackers
Devon Delmar Director · Jason Jacobs Director Cleveland Hopp Production designer
United States release April 18, 2026 · Produced in South Africa, Netherlands, Qatar · Production Interakt, Meria Productions
Production
Kraal
Production
Interakt
Production
Meria Productions
Production
DFI
Production
Hubert Bals Fund
Production
South Africa · Netherlands · Qatar
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Variasies op 'n tema
Original language
Afrikaans
Spoken on screen
Afrikaans
Release dates
Netherlands · January 31, 2026
Premiere · International Film Festival Rotterdam
United States · April 18, 2026
Premiere · New Directors/New Films International Film Festival
South Africa · May 8, 2026
Theatrical
United States
August 9, 2026 · Premiere · Blackstar Film Festival
Angola
October 28, 2026 · Premiere · FIC Luanda International Film Festival
Australia
August 16, 2026 · Premiere · Melbourne International Film Festival
Belgium
October 10, 2026 · Premiere · Film Fest Gent
Brazil
October 16, 2026 · Premiere · 50th São Paulo International Film Festival
November 3, 2026 · Premiere · Mostra de Cinema Africano - Espelhos d'África
Cape Verde
October 15, 2026 · Premiere · Kafuka African Film Festival
Colombia
October 8, 2026 · Premiere · Bogotá International Film Festival
Croatia
May 22, 2026 · Premiere · Zagreb Subversive Festival
November 9, 2026 · Premiere · Porečdox
France
October 14, 2026 · Premiere · Grand Bivouac
Germany
September 17, 2026 · Premiere · Afrika Film Festival Köln
Hong Kong SAR China
April 9, 2026 · Premiere · Hong Kong International Film Festival
Kenya
October 23, 2026 · Premiere · Kilifi Creek Festival
Morocco
November 24, 2026 · Premiere · Marrakech International Film Festival
Netherlands
October 21, 2026 · Premiere · 013 International Film Festival
Nigeria
November 4, 2026 · Premiere · Africa International Film Festival
Peru
October 9, 2026 · Premiere · Lima Alterna Festival Internacional de Cine
Poland
July 24, 2026 · Premiere · New Horizons International Film Festival
October 25, 2026 · Premiere · Muzeum Narodowe w Gdańsku
Romania
June 15, 2026 · Premiere · Transilvania International Film Festival
South Africa
March 8, 2026 · Premiere · Joburg Film Festival
August 20, 2026 · Premiere · Silwerskermfees
October 11, 2026 · Premiere · Joburg Underground Film Festival
Spain
May 24, 2026 · Premiere · Festival de Cine Africano de Tarifa-Tanger
United Kingdom
October 8, 2026 · Premiere · BFI London Film Festival
October 29, 2026 · Premiere · Film Africa
October 30, 2026 · Premiere · Leeds International Film Festival
October 31, 2026 · Premiere · Jali Film Weekender
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