Plot
It's a bit strange to write a review in 2018 which is really a response to a review written 23 Fecruary 2006 by imasamiam. I happen to have accessed this site as I was today writing a personal review of Sophiatown to a personal friend and all this was instigated by the fact that yesterday was Nelson Mandela's 100th birthday. By coincidence, I also watched the film in 2005 on SA Airways flights - both directions - but in my case between SA and Brazil. I was also deeply impressed and moved by the film - not necessarily assessing its structure from film-making perspective (as was done by bob the moo in the only other review that has been posted) but by its content and the treatment the content received. I have a son who studied film making at university and we have had discussions where he is critical and I defend it - and we never agree on how many stars to give it. But for me, who has worked in Africa as a consultant for many years (and in fact was working in Johannesburg in 1994 when Mandela won the general Election) and as a lifelong jazz enthusiast, the film is a Documentary with the biggest possible D! So, I wish I had seem your post, imasamiam, back in 2006, because I also set out looking for it on DVD to no avail. So, I got in touch with the company in Ireland who apparently was the copyright holder. After several phone calls, they sold me a copy on DVD, which I had to get my sister in London to pick up from their London office and then mail to me in Brazil. Some years back, the DVD ceased to function, but luckily I had made a copy onto the hard disc of my laptop. I still watch the film several times a year. Just the music makes it worthwhile. But keeping the memory of alive of those critical times in the history of SA - which are so relevant to so many other countries worldwide today - is the important reason.
Written by
Pascale Lamche
Directed by
Pascale Lamche
Crew
Production Countries
Ireland, United Kingdom
Production Companies
Little Bird
Languages
Afrikaans, English
Awards
N/A