By: Thapelo Ramorobi.
Every time I see a samoosa from now on, I’ll think of this movie. Because that’s what Finding Optel does — it sneaks up on you with something small and familiar, then leaves you unexpectedly moved.
Fresh from its European premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, Finding Optel lands on Showmax this Friday, 24 October 2025 — and it’s one of the most refreshingly original local films you’ll see this year.
At the heart of the story is Claire Abrahams, a teenager who runs a lost-and-found service where she can locate anything — except the one thing she’s been avoiding: her brother’s disappearance. When Optel, the community dog, goes missing, Claire’s latest case becomes an emotional excavation of grief, love and memory.
Co-directed by siblings Mikayla Joy Brown (25) and Jesse Brown (30), Finding Optel feels like an affectionate echo of Amélie, told through the lens of the Cape Flats, with a tone that’s both nostalgic and quietly magical. The Browns’ childhood memories of their grandparents’ home in Montevideo infuse every frame with warmth and intimacy.
BFI LFF called it
“heartwarming … a quirky detective story that skilfully tackles childhood grief,”
while Huisgenoot praised it as “an unmissable jewel.” I’d agree — it’s a film that doesn’t shout its brilliance, it simply lets you feel it.
Following its standing ovation at the kykNET Silwerskerm Festival, where it earned nominations for Paul Guyeu’s cinematography and won Sumaya Wicomb the Best Production Design Award, Finding Optel continues to charm audiences abroad.
The cast is a roll call of South African favourites: Oscar Petersen, Zenobia Kloppers, Maurice Carpede, Euodia Samson, Elton Landrew, and Omar Adams — each adding a distinct texture to this already rich tapestry.
Produced by Quanita Adams and Dominique Jossie under Blended Films, the project is part of Showmax’s First-Time Director slate, a partnership with the Joburg Film Festival designed to open the industry to emerging filmmakers.
But beyond the labels and accolades, Finding Optel stands out because it’s sincere. It’s a film that believes in the power of community, imagination, and small acts of healing.
Finding Optel streams on Showmax this Friday — and trust me, this one’s worth finding.
Finding Optel is the kind of film that sneaks into your heart quietly — and stays there, wagging its tail long after the credits roll.
