The incredible story of two parents whose baby was stolen at birth, who miraculously found her 17 years later, and who then lost her again…
Girl, Taken follows the story of Celeste and Morne Nurse, whose baby daughter Zephany was stolen from hospital three days after her birth in Cape Town, April 1997. For 17 years, the devastated couple searched for Zephany, regularly making media appeals, hiring private detectives and following false leads.
Then in 2015, their second daughter, Cassidy, enrolled in a new school, where other pupils pointed out an older pupil, Miche Solomon, who looked much like her. DNA samples confirmed that Miche was Zephany, and, incredibly, she had grown up only a few miles from the Nurse’s home. The Nurses were overjoyed, and the story saw them becoming media darlings around the world.
However, the arrest and trial of the seamstress whom Miche knew as her loving mother devastated her and ultimately, she chose to remain with the kidnapper’s family. The Nurses, against all expectations, lost their daughter a second time. This film follows the process of two broken families climbing the difficult path towards forgiveness and wholeness.
"Many twists and turns... many complexities and different layers."
DURBAN FILM FESTIVAL JURY
"Riveting documentary."
THE CAPE ROBYN
"I was gripped by this roller-coaster ride of a true story."
NORTHGLEN NEWS
"5 must-see films at the Durban International Film Festival."
THE AFRICA REPORT
**** [Four Stars]
HEAT MAGAZINE
"Compelling and heartbreaking stuff."
HEAT MAGAZINE
"Complex... full of emotion."
KFM
"So emotional... my heart broke."
KFM
"Remarkable, compelling viewing. The depth of understanding of the story, the access to the players involved.. it was a remarkable piecing together of the story."
CAPE TALK
"Gripping."
CAPE TALK
DURATION
1 x 92-minutes
BROADCASTER
MNET South Africa
YEAR OF PRODUCTION
2022
COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION
South Africa & Ireland
Directors
Francois Verster, Simon Wood
Producers
David Rane, Francois Verster, Simon Wood