The South African entertainment industry is one of the best when it comes to producing some of the best African films. Films were being produced in South Africa as early as 1916, such as De Voortrekkers, which tells the story of the Great Trek of the Boers in the late 1930’s and finally the re-enactment of the 1838 Battle of Blood River in which a few hundred Africans defeated several thousand Zulus . Since then, South Africa has released many more films that are well recommended around the world. Some of them have come all the way to win America’s Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Answers Africa brings you the top 10 South African films released so far.
See: Top 10 African Movies That Will Blow Your Mind
Top 10 South African Movies
10. Standers
Stander is a South African film released in 2003 and follows the life and career of Andre Stander, a South African police officer turned bank robber. The 1 hour, 56-minute screenplay shows Stander where he gets caught after committing more than two dozen heists, but it’s not long before he breaks out of prison and resumes his anti-authoritarian crimes as hardened criminals (Dexter Fletcher) and Allan (David Patrick O’Hara).
9. Sarafina!
sarafina! was originally intended as a musical starring Whoopi Goldberg during the troubled period of South African apartheid in the mid-1970s during Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment. Sarafina (Leleti Khumalo) learns about the oppression of the Afrikaners in the underground lectures of her teacher Mary Masembuko (Goldberg). Sarafina’s mother, who works as a servant in a white household and never sees her children, urges Sarafina to take her turn. But she can no longer turn a blind eye when the government jails her teacher and butchers her potential boyfriend during an arson protest. The students, incited to start a riot, kill a crooked black police officer, leaving Sarafina to grapple with her decision to use violence against government structures. The ruling regime would tighten its grip and kill 575 black people in eight months to quell the riots. (Rottentomato Review)
8. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Released in 2002, Ben Clark (Byron Taylor), after he moves to a new place with his family, becomes best friends with his older neighbor, Milner (Robert Davi), who is an accomplished magician. In the developing relationship, Ben asks to be tutored in the art of magic, which Milner initially refused to do, noticing a mysterious scar on Ben’s face. However, Milner’s decision was overturned by Ben’s persistence and natural talent for magic. (… And the rest of what happens is recorded on the DVD) .
7. The road to Mecca
The Way to Mecca is therefore a documentary half travelogue, half biography and season about the remarkable journey of an Austrian Jew who became the most influential Muslim of the 20th century. In 1900 in Ukraine, a baby was born to very strict and religious parents. Years later he made a trip to the Middle East. It is later recalled that this is the journey that would change the course of modern history. He converted to Islam and eventually became one of the advisors to the Saudi Arabian king and later one of the key influencers in the formation of Pakistan. He served as a UN adviser and influenced the translation of Quoran into English.
6. Tsotsi
A South African film revealing the underground life of Johannesburg in the life of a teenage community Tsotsi (Thugs) in Soweto. Within 6 days all hell broke loose with cases of robbery, violence, auto theft and murder. Tsotsi won the 2006 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. It was directed by Gavin Hoodin.
5th district 9th
An alien race forced to live inslum-like conditions on Earth suddenly find a kindred spirit in a government agent exposed to their biotechnology. The science fiction, action and thriller film was directed by Neill Blomkamp and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. District 9 won the 2010 Saturn Award for Best International Film from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films and was nominated for four Academy Awards in 2010.
4. Zulu
Zulu- has received notable acclaim since its publication. It was nominated for the 37th greatest Hollywood film of all time and was ranked No. 8 by UK viewers in their 100 Greatest War Movies. The epic battle of Rorke’s Drift, in which 150 British soldiers fought 4,000 Zulu warriors, was the pinnacle of Zulu This is a look at one of the world’s most historic battles. The film starred Michael Caine, Jack Hawkins and Stanley Baker and was shot in KwaZulu-Natal.
3. Freedom cry
Cry Freedom is a South African film based on Donald Woods’ book. Released in 1987, the film tells the life story of Woods as he tries to uncover the truth about Steve Biko and his escape from SA. It also marks the apartheid years. Woods worked as a newspaper editor and eventually wrote a bestselling book, which was then adapted into an award-winning film. The film, starring Denzel Washington and Kevin Kline, received three Oscar nominations.
2. How to steal 2 million
How to Steal 2 Million is considered one of the best African films ever made. Produced in 2011 and directed by Charlie Vundla. Main character Jack after serving five years for a robbery. Twala was never caught and Jack never spoke. Jack wants to go legit and forget his old lifestyle, but after he’s turned down a loan. Twala hands him a R2 million job in partnership with the sexy but tough Olive. The complication at work is that the sign is Twala’s father and little does he know that she will prove to be more sneaky than his old friend. The South African film had 11 nominations and won 4 awards at the 2012 African Movie Academy Awards.
1. Invictus
Invictus is a South African sports film/drama that follows the lives of Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) and Matt Damon. Directed by Clint Eastwood, Invictus explores the challenges Nelson Mandela faced during his first term as South African President and how he created a unique enterprise to unite the apartheid-torn country in that part of the country was to be drafted national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.