Dangerous Ground (1997)

Vusi Madlazi returns to the South African village he left as a young boy (he was organizing against apartheid, and left in fear of his life) to bury his father. He meets up with his brother... See full summary »

Director:

Darrell Roodt

Writers:

Greg Latter, Darrell Roodt

Stars:

Thokozani Nkosi, Ron Smerczak, Ice Cube

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Thokozani Nkosi	...	Young Vusi
Ron Smerczak	...	Interrogation Policeman (as Ron Smerczac)
Wilson Dunster	...	Heavy Policeman
Ice Cube	...	Vusi Madlazi
Sechaba Morojele	...	Ernest Madlazi
Peter Khubeke	...	Igqira (as Peter Kubheka)
Roslyn Morapedi	...	Vusi's Mother
Elizabeth Hurley	...	Karen
Mabel Mafuya	...	Woman
Fana Mokoena	...	Youth
Maimela Motubatse	...	Youth
Nkululeko Mabandla	...	Youth
Robert Whitehead	...	Sandton Hotel Receptionist
Gresham Phetjaulima	...	Bellboy
Tony Caprari	...	Bar Owner

Storyline

Vusi Madlazi returns to the South African village he left as a young boy (he was organizing against apartheid, and left in fear of his life) to bury his father. He meets up with his brother Ernest, who tells him their other brother Stephen couldn't be contacted. Vusi goes to Johannesburg to find him, but at first can only find his neighbor/girlfriend, Karin, a stripper. Vusi proceeds to learn how conditions have changed since the end of apartheid, not always for the better for black men.

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Plot Keywords:

apartheid | stripper | female nudity | shovel | student | 

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Taglines:

What he wants is revenge. What he gets is the fight of his life.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, drug use and language, and for some nudity

Details

Country:

USA South Africa

Language:

English Zulu

Release Date:

12 February 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

A visszatérés

Filming Locations:

Coffee Bay, South Africa

Box Office

Gross:

$5,079,851 (USA) (7 March 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema, Jacaranda Films, Investec Merchant Bank

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Karin's and Steven's apartments appear to be on the street level if you look from the street, but when Karin goes out the window to cross to Steven's apartment there's a street way down below.

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Quotes

Vusi Madlazi: There's two things I never, ever buy: water and pussy.
Black Hooker: Ha! Why's that?
Vusi Madlazi: Because they both come free.

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Connections

References Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

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Soundtracks

"Heytadah"
Written by Deon Thomas Daniels, Shaheen Ariefdien, Ishmael Molifi Morabe
Performed by Prophets of da City
Courtesy of Nations Records Ltd./Beggars Banquet Records Ltd.

User Reviews

Good, but could have been better

This movie will keep you watching to the end, but unfortunately it ends up feeling like just another gangsta movie. They touched on the problems of South Africa but ultimately this story could have been set almost anywhere. The South Africa setting is just incidental. The lines between good & bad are too easily drawn - the characters seem 1 dimensional at times. Different and interesting, but ultimately unfulfilling in some ways.