It so happens that I have been watching two feature films about Africa recently. The first was the new film Africa United which I got to see for review purposes but held back on a sit the themes are not quite what was expected, in fact throughout the film there is a slightly unpleasant but perhasp essential theme (hence the 12A certificate) which will put some people off what is in many respects a fine pro-Africa film. It is the story of five pretty different African kids making their way from East Africa to South Africa to see the world cup. The format enables one to see a very positive picture of Africa though in now way glossing over the immense problems the continent faces. A series of animated sequences pepper the film. You may well want to check it out in the cinema or, better, later on DVD.
Then the week after that my wife got hold of the 2009 biopic Invictus on DVD, as it had been spoken of highly by South African friends. Again it is a well constructed film built around a world cup (this time the 1995 rugby world cup). It allows you to get a flavour of the rule of Nelson Mandela. Clearly Mandela was a very astute politician and a man who who has suffered greatly for his convictions. Very moving (though the way they drew out the cup final against New Zealand nearly turned me right against it).
Both have decent though not outstanding soundtracks which may appeal.
Both are very much humanist films and so have to taken in with a large pinch of salt. The poem Vicorian poem Invictus that gives the mandela film its name is the one that ends with what to Christian ears are quite alarming words "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul". If Africa tries to go forward with that philosophy thing can only get worse.
1 comment:
Have you seen District 9. A unique sci-fi movie set in Johannesburg. It was recommended by a South African friend for its accuracy in portraying Johannesburg and it's problem. Bit grim. Bad language but no sex or nudity.
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