Inspired by his volunteer work at the Denis Hurley Centre during lockdown, award-winning filmmaker Michael James collaborated with a group of homeless men to produce a feature film that dynamically delves into the lives and experiences of those often overlooked by society.
Durban, South Africa (31 July 2025) – In the greater society, where the grim and troubled realities of those who call the streets and dilapidated buildings their home are often outcast, filmmaker Michael James wanted to zoom his lens right in on them to produce a film that authentically honours their lives and experiences, in all their gritty reality.
Inspired by his volunteer work at the Denis Hurley Centre during the COVID-19 lockdown, James initially collaborated with homeless men to create the short film, No Kings of the Street.
But Michael’s vision was even more ambitious, and five years later, he has achieved this in a full-length feature film, God’s Work, which was premiered in a full-house screening at the 46th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) this month.
Known for being a disruptive storyteller, Michael takes viewers deep into the heart of Durban’s marginalised communities, following the character of Simphiwe and his friends as they navigate survival, brotherhood, and the universal human desire to be seen.
For Michael, homelessness is largely experienced by invisible people just trying to exist – a reality he deeply tapped into while volunteering at the Denis Hurley Centre.
He hopes the film will inspire audience viewers around the world to look inward and question the way in which they live their lives.
“One would only dream that, as individuals engage with this film that there would be some kind of broader dialogue. My dream is for this film to create conversation that would explore the ways, firstly, in which cinema has kept the marginalised unseen and even more than that, I’d love for this film to challenge some of the ways we talk about homelessness in society,” Michael shared with Lotus FM.
The film has been selected to compete for the best South African feature film at DIFF.
Other screenings of God’s Work will be at Bioscope, JHB on Saturday, 2 Aug at 12pm and Labia, CPT on Sunday, 3 Aug at 12pm.
Sources: Supplied
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