This was an absolutely incredible movie, top notch in every aspect, yet its not even showing in Canal Walk in Cape Town 2 weeks after its release - pretty strange? I would've thought it would be selling out - especially here in SA?
shareI got the DVD for Christmas and all i can Say is WOW.
I watched the movie with my 8yr old nephew and he totally loved it.
What sad is this movie is 10x better than Tsotsi but not many people know about it.
Such a great film, making it sadder to see how limited the screening was here in SA. Sadly, there was no (significant) budget for marketing. This from Wikipedia (I know it may not be reliable, etc, but it rings true)...
Production of Jerusalema was difficult because the filmmakers struggled to find a budget when South Africa's National Film and Video Foundation would not invest in their project. The filmmakers found enough financing to make the film, and Ziman reflected that the budget was smaller than music videos he had directed. Ziman said of the experience, "We used skateboards as dollies on the set and old-technology cameras to film. We cut down on the crew but I don't think anyone who sees the film will realise that."
Still, it is so wrong when hyper-budgeted mass-produced crap is forced down our "eyes" but gems like this hardly gets any attention.
It's even more sad to learn that Ralph Ziman had difficulty to find a budget when he's just about the greatest South African director of our time. I hoped that with Jerusalema he would have finally got the international acclaim he deserves but this movie who has a fantastic and interesting story to told has been severely overlooked just like "Hearts and Minds" & "The Zookeeper".
shareAgreed. Let's cling on to the hope that it becomes one of those "rediscovered classics" in a few years, and that Ziman would receive his rightful acclaim in one way or another. Needs an international distributor to raise its profile in the media though. Wish I could do those things! But alas.
shareBecause nobody cares?
I think it's a good movie that is worth watching. Good, but not great. Definitely got me interested in Ziman's other work.... if I can ever get access to any of it, that is.