50 South African Films to Watch Before You Die...
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Loading... - William Claudia
- 29 Nov 2021
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This list of 50 South African Movies to Watch Before You Die is a contemporary reflection, which is by no means definitive. To simplify matters, Spling's sidelined documentaries and well-regarded classics for their own future lists. While there are hundreds of South African films, a few of which deserve a spot, the films ranked below are some of Spling's favourites and are all recommended having received a 7/10 rating or higher.
Be sure to click through to read or listen to his review before you commit to watching a film listed below. While they're all recommended, some are not for sensitive viewers.
1. District 9
Watching District 9 was a new film experience, which could only be described as Hotel Rwanda, Fido and Lars and the Real Girl... in a blender.
2. Life, Above All
Life, Above All is a universal story about the intricate relationship between mother and daughter.
3. Toorbos
Toorbos is a compelling period drama based on Dalene Mathee's novel about a woman's quest for personal freedom. A dapper gentleman tries to prepare her for civilised society and marriage as her connection to nature draws her back to her spirit home - the woods.
4. Dis ek, Anna
Dis ek, Anna is a powerful and provocative drama that seeks to bring the issue to light by telling the personal story of Anna, a victim of domestic sexual abuse, against the backdrop of a country in crisis.
5. Meerkat Maantuig
Meerkat Maantuig or Meerkat Moonship is a film by writer-director Hanneke Schutte, which tells the story of Gideonette, a young girl, who moves in with her grandparents after her father passes away and her mother goes to rehab.
6. Moffie
Moffie is a brutal, powerful and haunting drama about a young gay conscript who tries to survive two years of intensive military service in Apartheid-era South Africa.
7. Yesterday
Yesterday is a simple, pure, slow and quietly powerful South African drama from writer-director Darryl Roodt. It's the first feature-length Zulu film and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Film, lauded for its universality and purity, positively compared with The Bicycle Thief.
8. Kanarie
While South Africa’s complicated history of Apartheid diffuses the pop culture of the day, this is where we find Kanarie, a film about an army conscript searching for his true identity.
9. Sink
Sink is a sleek, harrowing and powerful South African domestic drama.
10. Liewe Kersfeesvader
While the title would make you think Christmas, this movie is more of a heartwarming sometimes prickly comedy drama about a dysfunctional family. Read More...
