samturpin12

As a South African I know pretty much what to expect from South African films, so in terms of the South African film industry (from the 1930s - now) I give it 8/10, worldwide however (and due to its directional history, the film I mean), I give it 6. Aside from it being a remake of an earlier South African short film, I feel that Jamie Uys did an outstanding job of directing "Dingaka". The music score, scenery, progression and intrigue are absolutely amazing. It is easy for anybody to follow and understand and the story is gripping and the concept of the two worlds clashing is put very well to film. The characters are very magnetic (especially Mpudi) and Stanley Baker is always great. A must see for anyone who loves a good story, South African film lovers and people who love to enjoy rare films. In my opinion, it should be put to DVD for the world to see!

I found "Siliva Zulu" to be relatively exciting, given it's context. It is easy to be intrigued by the storyline and marvelous African scenery. Essentially, it is a showcase of an old African world exhibited by Italian "explorer" and film maker Attilio Gatti. A simple but exciting love story which many may relate to. Boy loves girl, girl loves boy, other boy gets in the way, devious plots, magic medicine, evil takes on good in this love story set in an old African society. Although, it must be said that there are some racist undertones throughout - Gatti utilised a European, ethnographic operandi to tell his story using the African cast and there is little literature to tell us how the relations between the Africans and Europeans were on set, and so I would advise watching this film with a grain of salt as to what the end goals of this film were. It probably wasn't filmed for an African audience at all, but rather a European one of the 1920s. It was one of the first of the worlds films not to feature any European or American actors on screen. The story encompasses the tropes of "witch-doctors", warriors, romance and a sense of traditional, domestic Zulu life to tell an interesting story. A must see if ever one gets the chance. I viewed most of it at an exhibition in Johannesburg about Gatti's expedition to Africa in the 20s.