Back in 2007, Cape Town residents were shaken when Ellen Pakkies, a woman from the Cape Flats, was accused of murdering her drug-addicted son, Abie.

From law officials to armchair critics, people were left wondering what drove this loving mother to kill her only son, with whom she had a stormy relationship.

Judging from the official trailer for Ellen: The Story of Ellen Pakkies, which was released today, it promises to reveal her side of the story in a gripping, intense way.

Per the report by Channel24, it’s based on the true story about the troubled relationship between Pakkies [portrayed by Jill Levenberg] and Abie – who actor Jarrid Geduld brings to life in the most frightening, heart-stopping and realistic way possible – before the mother takes drastic action.

Have a look at the trailer:

Looks like it’s going to be riveting stuff.

It also serves as a grim reminder of how substance abuse can effectively ruin lives, especially in areas where drugs like tik consume kids and adults alike.

Per the IMDB page, the plot touches on this reality:

Told across two timelines, Ellen is the harrowing account of a woman put through the penal system, tried for murder and driven by an unflinching love for her son. It delves into the inner psyche of a family ravaged by drugs in one of the most dangerous communities in South Africa. A scourge that extends beyond the Cape Flats and highlights a systematic failure to protect the poorest of the poor.

Honestly, can a film get more relatable than this?

Directed by Daryne Joshua, the same chap behind Noem My Skollie, this film has already won over film-goers and critics, who called it a masterpiece.

If the trailer has you sold, then you can catch the film at South African cinemas on Friday, September 7.

Local is lekker, folks, and no doubt Ellen: The Story of Ellen Pakkies is the best representation of that phrase yet.

[source:channel24&imdb]