Willow Joubert is turning her grandfather’s extraordinary adventures as the first known diver to retrieve gold off The Birkenhead wreck into a movie: ‘Finding Goldfinger”. But, this is a film about far more than golden adventures:
South Africa (29 November 2024) — Aspiring filmmaker Willow Joubert has dedicated her first film, ‘Finding Goldfinger’, to her late grandfather—a man whose life once changed forever because of an extraordinary adventure, a lot of courage, and gold.
Pierre ‘Goldfingers’ Joubert may have been a grandfather when Willow proposed the idea for a documentary, but he was also once a young man with a penchant for discovery.
Who Was Pierre ‘Goldfingers’ Joubert?
As his daughter, Vanessa Joubert, tells Good Things Guy, in 1984, Pierre earned his nickname after he and four friends embarked on a history-making adventure that sounds like a snippet straight out of Outer Banks. That year, Pierre became the first recorded man to retrieve gold off the Wreck of the HMS Birkenhead with more history-making moments to follow!
“These 5 dreamers with a world against them would go on to build the first Saturation Diving System in South Africa, with their first Dive Project being the Wreck of the Birkenhead,” explains Vanessa.
Of course, this alone makes for excellent subject material. But, the real heart of the film isn’t about gold or adventure alone.
Largely, It’s a story about dreamers, friendship and courage against the odds. Beautifully told by people who loved him, it isn’t just Goldfingers’ story, but Pierre’s.
Finding Goldfinger
“Pierre [was] overwhelmed with pride and excitement to be the first subject [of] his granddaughter’s filmmaking dreams,” shares Vanessa.
Initially, the plan had been a documentary style that, after the idea was proposed, would see Pierre sit down for a proper interview with Willow as well as a trip to the wreck itself.
“Unfortunately, his next visit never came,” Vanessa explains.
His daughter shared that even his final moments saw his bravery shine through as terrible rain in Botrivier left his house flooded in September 2023.
“He was unable to move with the furniture trapping him, but he was brave till the end as he sent my mother to be safe on the windowsill in the bedroom.
“This windowsill was the only structure that remained when the heavens closed and the water subsided.”
Without Pierre to guide the story, the film would become something different. No longer was it about discovering the adventure itself, but rather discovering Pierre through the eyes of others.
“During our writing research we made friends along the way, with beautiful stories and memories of my father. At this point, we were finding out more about him along the way, and so we named the film ‘Finding Goldfinger!’
“He has always been and will always be our muse, a great storyteller and brilliant mind,” Vanessa shares.
More About the Film
Filming was done across Cape Town and Gauteng, and has been divided into two stretches of filming as the film is self-funded.
View this post on Instagram
Those who have seen Just Now Jeffrey can look forward to seeing some of the cast again, with many other talents boasting theatre and Netflix features.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
You can keep up with film updates here, and support its creation here.
Sources: Email Submission
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 