Kevin Smokler

SFiFF: Day #11

Morning after report.

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Which way is up?

and do I live here?

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Benefits of Membership:

A word on membership in the San Francisco Film Society.

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A Little South African Music...

To get you in the mood. They had a mini concert before
the screening of this movie.

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SFIFF Day #6: The Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela

Film: The Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela

What is it?

Documentary about 12 members of the African National Congress Youth League who lived in exile for 30 years after fleeing from their native South Africa. Made by the stepson of one of the men.

Why did I see it?

Growing up in the 1980s, seeing A Dry White Season and reading Athol Fugard, loving the Amandla! soundtrack, I've been fascinated by South Africa for many years.

Did I Like it?

Almost. I wanted to. It's got tons of soul and passion for its subject but lacks perspective. It assumes the history of apartheid is common knowledge, that terms like "pass law" and "Soweto Riots" mean something to everyone. If they don't, the significance of his father's history and how it parallels that of his homeland are unmoored from the heart of the film.

Also, and this issue came up with Metal: A Headbangers Journey which I saw earlier this week, it's difficult to do both a documentary about yourself and about a subject much larger. The subject almost always get short shift, acting uncomfortably as both set decoration and lead actor and throwing into question how what's being left out because it makes the documentarian uneasy. So mucha s I applaud Thomas Allen Harris's efforts, he's given us a good 3/4 of a film in need of one more edit and about two giant steps away from it.

Can you see it? Release date June 9.

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