| Alt Name: | The Day I Lost My Dad |
| Story: | Kagiso Modupe |
| Director: | Sanele Zulu |
| Music: | Brian Temba |
| Country: | South Africa |
| Language: | English Zulu |
| Executive Producer: | Liza Modupe |
| Cinematography: | Gavin Sterley |
| Editor: | Bongani Tshikawu |
| Runtime: | 96 minutes |
| Network: | Netflix |
Losing Lerato is a 2019 South African Action drama film produced by Kagiso Modupe and Bakwena Productions, It was directed by Sanele zulu and written by Ricardo Arendse and Kagiso Modupe.The film stars Patrick Mofokeng, Connie Chiume, Ayanda Borotho, Tshimollo Modupe, Samela Tyelbooi and Kagiso Modupe.
The film was released on Netflix streaming platform on September 13, 2019.
The film follows Thami (Kagiso Modupe), a struggling young man who lost his job at a prestigious firm due to fraud accusations. This incident is the breaking point for his wife, Noluthando (Samela Tyelbooi) who is concerned about her future, leaves him, taking their daughter Lerato (Tshimillo Modupe) with her, and marries a local politician, Jake (Thato Molamu).
Thami is then faced with Noluthando's persistent efforts to block his access to Lerato. After exhausting all legal options and driven by his longing to reunite with his daughter, Thami decides to abduct Lerato from school. His attempt to spend a day with her quickly spirals into chaos, resulting in a tense standoff with the police and endangering not only their lives but also those of other passengers, leading to a dramatic hostage situation on the bus.
Losing Lerato was produced by Bakwena Productions, with Principal photography
The film was released in South Africa on September 13, 2019.[2] It received a positive reception from audiences and critics alike for its compelling story and strong performances, particularly from Kagiso Modupe and his real-life daughter Tshimillo Modupe.[3] [4]
Losing Lerato grossed over R4.1 million ($217,878) during its first five weeks of release,[5] marking it a commercial success in the South African film market.[6] [7]
Critics praised the film for its emotional depth and the cast's performances. The father-daughter dynamic between Kagiso and Tshimillo Modupe was highlighted as a standout element of the film.[8] [9] [10]
The sequel, Losing Lorato 2 was released on 2 August 2024 exclusively on Netflix.[11]
The film was submitted to the International Indian Film Academy Awards 2020 to qualify as a nominee for the Award for Best Film. Losing Lerato received several nominations and awards.[12]