Benoni left in Monster dark

2004-02-27 11:40

Johannesburg - Oscar nominee Charlize Theron's new film Monster opens on Friday - and although it may fetch her Hollywood's top award over the weekend - it is not being screened in her hometown, a daily said.

Residents from Benoni, where 28-year-old Theron grew up, are incensed that they are being ignored at a time when the nondescript, lowbrow area could finally achieve its 15 minutes of fame, This Day said on Friday.

A spokesperson for Nu Metro said the film - a grim portrayal of the life of American prostitute-turned-serial killer Aileen Wuornos - was too "upmarket" for Benoni.

"It caters for a particular niche. The people of Benoni want to see Charlize in movies like Italian Job, not Monster."

The Italian Job was a crime caper in which Theron plays a glamorous hi-tech action girl.

Monster, meanwhile, opens in 15 select theatres on Friday.

Benoni butcher Tienie de Beer, who remembers Theron buying meat from her shop as a child, said: "Why do they do this to us? We must support her. She's such a good actress."

Barry Newland, the owner of Theron's childhood home, said locals felt slighted.

"I don't see why they think we wouldn't want to see it," he said. "It sounds great."

Theron, gained weight and wore a prosthetic to portray Wuornos in the true story of a troubled and brutal woman who was executed in 2002.

- AFP