South African Cinema is Sizzling

It’s time for the world’s cinemas to see an African Blockbuster
by Nick van der Leek

Filmmaking in South Africa has been on the boil for some time now. Tsotsi is our most recent success, but South African talent in the film industry has been around for a while now. And it’s gone global. On my last trip to Singapore Leon Schuster’s flick, Mr. Bones, was on one of the giant posters standing alongside a lineup that included The Two Towers, a story originally penned by JRR Tolkien, who was born in Bloemfontein. Our leading lady from Benoni, Charlize, is one of South Africa’s sexiest exports. All we need is a leading man from South Africa, to take over Hollywood. And why stop there? Isn’t it time Africa exported a major film, like Out of Africa, or something like the worldwide hit The God’s Must Be Crazy, way back when?

Charlize isn’t the only made-in-Africa actor to take Hollywood by storm. Djimon Hounsou, with his French accent, has been very successful, starring in huge movies like Gladiator, and memorably in The Island and Amistad.
Let’s not forget about Boetie. Arnold Vosloo has been out there for a few years, achieving some success in films like The Mummy and its second episode. We’ve made some good films like Ian Gabriel’s Forgiveness and Jock of the Bushveld, but we really need a new film about Africa to shake the world.

Now that films like Fahrenheit 911, The Constant Gardener and Syriana have piqued the interests of entertainment audiences everywhere in matters of serious concern, and particularly Africa, it’s time we told the world our story once more. Local is lekker, and the Cape is especially lekker, having seeing a number of films shot in the city and surrounding land and seascapes. I for one was dumbstruck and bewildered – transported right out of the plot in fact – when I watched Lord of War and recognized Llandudno, Hout Bay and other local scenery. I don’t believe our story needs to be political, like The Power of One, or even The Long Walk to Freedom. I’m sure, in the right hands, both these stories could be represented as major films, but there is far more power and majesty, and subtlety lying deeper – in our own indigenous tribes.

Other countries have recently been showcasing their ethnic talents, like Nikki Caro, the New Zealand director who brought us Whale Rider. Memoirs of a Geisha, set in Japan, ushers in a new awareness of Asia, and from those quarters we are seeing plenty of good cinema, including Old Boy (from Korea), and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero from China. Oscar winning Brokeback Mountain was sensitively filmed by Chinese director, Ang Lee.

The last film from South Africa that really took the world by storm was The God’s Must Be Crazy. I believe, taking the cue from that film, and observing Nikki Caro’s success, we ought to concentrate our efforts on filming what is unique about Africa, and possibly South Africa, and demonstrate what is so unique and special about the people who live here. It would be a pity if all that South Africa could represent was politically charged. Films about whites versus blacks seem to me to be useful, but not ideal. I mean, is that who we are? Is that how we want to portray who we are?

To my mind, as Carro focused on the indigenous people of New Zealand, the Maori’s, and their culture, we ought to, as Jamie Uys did, focus on our most precious, indigenous and endangered people – the Bushmen. These people do not only represent South Africa, but Africa, and the beginning of all the world’s people. The Bushmen live in a beautiful and terrible world. They live in a Thirstland with no possessions, save their extraordinary faculties and mastery of the environment. They are a charming people, who sgare everything, and their existence at times is intensely magical. But the reality is that their lives are today, more desperate than ever. We could learn from their story once more, and love and appreciate our land for what it is, and ourselves, for where we come from, once again.

We ought to aim for a film about them. A film that is the quintessential story of people in Africa. Perhaps South Africans should pool their talents. Writers tackle the subject in books and scripts. Directors and actors should come together and collaborate on an ultimate project. There ought to be a competition, and the winner, the winning film, wins for all of us.