Lionel Rogosin, cooperating with the staff of the iconic Drum magazine of the 1950s, created an accurate and unbiased portrayal of township life in South Africa under apartheid. Starring a collection of South Africa’s brightest black urban stars, this film broke new ground in the manner in which it showcased African urban identity and the hardships and realities of township life in the magical place known as Sophiatown (later destroyed).
Rogosin entered South Africa and shot the film illegally, obtaining permission by pretending to make a film about street music while constantly being hounded by strict apartheid legislature. Using amateur actors, limited equipment and a very tight schedule, he tried to portray township life and migrant labour under the apartheid regime. The actors were cast into roles according to their personalities and life experiences, so as to make everything as close to reality as possible. Moreover, they were not given specific lines, but rather told what information and emotions to convey in each scene – a technique described by Rogosin as ‘controlled, spontaneous dialogue’.
Zacharia is a migrant worker without a work permit and, as such, open to exploitation, arbitrary dismissal and sudden arrest. The use of the various languages in the film (Fanakalo, Afrikaans, Zulu and English) is elementary to its meaning. (EH)
Film details
- Country of production
- USA
- Year
- 1960
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2008
- Length
- 95"
- Medium/Format
- 35mm
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