FINALLY, ZAR films aren’t about Apartheid any longer

HAYI HAYI SHO…IT’S ENOUGH NOW!

Anger. Bloodshed. Guns. Apartheid. Segregation. Betrayal. Child soldiers. More bloodshed. These recurring themes in our films leave me with the feeling of frustrated anger. Are Apartheid films a TRUE reflection about how far we have come?

When will we gradually move away from our oppressed thoughts that we are afflicting on ourselves? I appreciate the movement of our films from a hard point of view to exploring the softer side of our culture and modern South Africa.

#localcontentisgreat

@ the bioskop: Khumba (2013)

When did we stop being a community? Director Anthony Silverton brings suggestion in this heart-tugging film about the quest for unity – which indirectly rattles the high fences that we stand behind. Khumba (2013) is the sweetest animation story of a zebra who was born without strips on the lower part of his body. The

Insecurity swept over young Khumba (voice of Jake T. Austin)  as he grew up in an isolated zebra herd that had enclosed themselves around a waterhole in the draught-ridden Karoo. Encouraged by the folk tale of a magic watering hole Khumba escapes the zebra compound to encounter a pack of starving hyenas that chase him into the hooves of buffalo Mama V ( voice of Loretta Devine ) and a fearless ostrich Bradley ( voice of Richard E Grant). Unaware that the crafty leopard  Phange ( voice of Liam Neeson) has captured his scent and is on his trail.

The threesome excavate mountains trails and encounter erected fences to prohibit the wildlife within the game reserve from escaping into the wild. A scene to watch out for in the film is when the springboks scrum together with Khumba to push down the barrier fence of the game reserve. A sweet way of honouring the national squad. Khumba unknowingly is on the determined quest to get his strips that would led him into the cave of Phange. Instead of escaping the claws of Phange, Khumba sees the  magic waterhole within reach and he refuses to turn back.

The film is a refreshing addition to films about gangers, heists, apartheid, Coloured-accented robots and alien-invasion in Johannesburg that South Africa film industry is known for.  This is not the first animation film from Mzansi- remember Jock of the Bosveld? The film is by Triggerfish Animation Studio, in association to the Department of Trade and Industry, and they did an outstanding job with capturing the life-like motions of the characters. The film’s music compilation by Bruce Retief is uplifting and adds to the film’s experience. I give Khumba 8.5 skopas.

THE FACES BEHIND THE KEYBOARD (click click) #3

Hello Joburg. I am a Hip-Hop enthusiast

Mr Reynolds ‘Yerorp’  Mumba’s face lights up when ever he watches a new music hip hop music on Youtube. The hip-hop enthusiast has a mad passion for African hip hop as he believes they all have a shared passion : Africa.

Complete the phrase: I am….the best version of myself.

Describe your blog as a flavour? Chicken Tikka sauce

Why do you chose to share your passion for African hip-hop music with the world. Couldn’t you have kept them to yourself? Because I speak for an African audience, that has lost their identity through music (Hip-hop)

What are some of the stereotypes about  hip-hop that you don’t associate with? Hip-hop being associated with violence.

Which African hip-hop artist do you most admire? Kiernan “AKA” Forbes

Class of 2017. Are you ready for the big bad world? Hell yeah! I think the question should be is the big world ready for me.

After 2017? I’m going to  to surf were the waves take me.

What superhero would you like to save you from third year? Mr. Muscle

If you had to be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be? South Korea 

Money or Passion? Of course passion, because it defines you.

To keep up with the latest music Africa’s hip hop best have, follow Yerorp’s blog here

(Disclaimer: All the information above is the opinion of the blogger. I am not involved!)

@ the bioskop: District 9 (2009)

South African born director Neil Blomkamp’s film District 9 (2009) narrates the African version of a sci-fi film story that has great depth. The film features an alien invasion where humans treat the aliens as refugees- in our wildest of dreams. The sudden appearance of a spaceship hovering over Johannesburg, South Africa, prompts a team of human investigators discovers its crew in distress. Unable to return to their home planet, the aliens are brought down to Johannesburg. Over time, the citizens of Johannesburg segregate the aliens, treating them as refugees.

Wikus van de Merwe, played by Sharlto Copley, is the film’s protagonist. He is an agent for a private military company Multinational United (M.N.U.) and he has the task of relocating 1.8 million alien refugees from District 9 to District 10, under the pretence of relocating the refugees to better living conditions. In reality, M.N.U. wants to capture the aliens’ weaponry. Wikus encounters the alien Christopher Johnson, who is trying configure alien technology, and the black liquid needed to fuel the spaceship and leave Earth get back home. The black liquid which was accidently ingested by Wikus. Wikus is gradually transformed into an alien. Because of his transformation, Wikus can operate alien technology weaponry.  Persecuted and alienated, Wikus finds himself on the run from familiar surroundings into the safe unknown.

The film flirts with the idea of an alien invasion in Africa. I doubt we would react so calmly about it. The film packs a sterk punch to the gut of our political officials –but they have had 6 years to recover. And stereotypes are played out as well.   The film is heart-warming and sweet, weirdly. I mostly enjoyed the authenticity of the film- it was a South African film. I rate the film 8.5 skopas.

@ the bioskop: Fanie Fourie’s lobola

Fanie Fourie Lobola (2013) by director ‘I can’t get over how sweet this film is’ that bursts at its seams with its cliché black girl and white guy rendition of the American film “ She is All That”.  The film is a cliché- yes – but with a light, interesting twist that involves a universal remote and an awesome soundtrack.

Fanie Fourie (played by Eduan van Jaarsveldt ) is a panel beater artist who is living in both his superstar’s brother shadow and in his mother’s garage. Unable to get a date for his brother Sarel Fourie’s (played by Chris Chameleon) wedding , he falls victim to a bet that were not at in his favour as he finds himself asking an self-assertive and stubborn Dinky Magubane (played by Zethu Dhlomo). The two agree to exchange numbers in agreement to exchange favours for one another. Despite having completed the favours, the two seem inseparable as Fanie continues to courageously drive into the township that Dinky stays in to see her.

The universal remote that Dinky received from Fanie was an awkward but kind gesture that so that she may have control of her neighbour’s blaring radio. Dinky and Fanie fall in love with one another. But have to endure their family’s judgement towards their fling. In trying to help Dinky escape from her predestined future of marriage to somebody else, Fanie proposes that he will lobola her.

The film is the most Afrikaans in an English film. Especially through the music. Which I enjoyed – which is I thinking the director was going for. The ‘ Sokkie’  dance in the middle of a ‘chesa ‘ynama’  was a clever fusion of two worlds. Very cleverly done. I thoroughly enjoyed the film – its lightness and the character’s sincerity. Thumbs up!

I give it 8 skopas.