Drum (2004)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Zola Maseko

Writer (WGA):

Jason Filardi (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

22 July 2005 (South Africa)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

A hot-shot journalist is swept up in a movement to challenge Apartheid in 1950s South Africa. |

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Taye Diggs	...	Henry Nxumalo
Gabriel Mann	...	Jurgen Schadeberg
Tumisho Masha	...	Can Themba (as Tumisho K. Masha)
Moshidi Motshegwa	...	Florence Nxumalo
Jason Flemyng	...	Jim Bailey
Zola	...	Slim (Alpheus) (as Bonginkosi Dlamini)
Fezile Mpela	...	Todd Matshikiza
Greg Melvill-Smith	...	Major Att Spengler (as Greg Melville-Smith)
Lindani Nkosi	...	Nelson Mandela (as Lindane Nkosi)
Keketso Semoko	...	Fatsy
Tessa Jubber	...	Carol Shand (as Tessa Jaye)
Bonnie Henna	...	Dara Macala (as Bonnie Mbuli)
Tanya Baleson	...	Planning Clerk
Emgee Pretorius	...	Johan Snyman
Israel Makoe	...	Vy
Connie Mfuku	...	Mother Who Lost Her Son
Walter Knight	...	Morgan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jacques Gombault	...	Cop #2
Dada Koyana	...	Suspicious Woman
Etienne Muller	...	Cop #1

Directed by
Zola Maseko

Writing credits (WGA)
Jason Filardi		(screenplay)
Timothy Grimes		(earlier screenplay) uncredited and
Zola Maseko		(earlier screenplay) uncredited

Produced by
Dumisani Dlamini	....	producer
Jason Filardi	....	executive producer
Andreas Grosch	....	executive producer
Wendy Knill	....	line producer
Zachary Matz	....	producer
Matt Milich	....	producer
Andreas Schmid	....	executive producer
Chris Sievernich	....	producer
Rudolf Wichmann	....	producer

Original Music by
Terence Blanchard
Cédric Gradus Samson

Cinematography by
Lisa Rinzler

Film Editing by
Troy Takaki

Casting by
Mavis Khanye

Production Design by
Eggert Ketilsson		(as Eddy Ketilsson)

Art Direction by
Lisa Perry

Set Decoration by
Susan Vermaak

Costume Design by
Pierre Vienings

Makeup Department
Charles Khoza	....	hair stylist
Mandy McDonald	....	assistant makeup artist
Debra Nicoll	....	makeup department head
Sheila Petlele	....	assistant makeup artist
Amanda Ross-McDonald	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Dale Tanguay	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Aryn Guiney	....	second assistant director
Aryn Guiney	....	second unit director
Monareng Makwetla	....	second assistant director
Rod Smith	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Arnold Oldknow	....	props
Evette Richter	....	set dressing assistant
Markus Root	....	assistant property master
Neil Swanepoel	....	property master

Sound Department
Ian Arrow	....	boom operator
Dieter Keck	....	sound mixer
Peter Maxwell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jim Petrak	....	assistant sound recordist

Stunts
Aubrey Lovett	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Alan McIntyre Smith	....	gaffer (as Alan Smith)
Jürgen Schadeberg	....	still photographer

Editorial Department
Nerissa Black	....	post-production coordinator
Leila Reekie	....	post-production coordinator
Andrea Shaw	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Pierre André	....	subtitle editor
Kerstin Dyroff	....	production coordinator: VIP Medienfonds
Claudia Sendlbeck-Schickor	....	tax advisor: VIP
Berit Wetzel	....	legal counsel: VIP

Thanks
Jürgen Schadeberg	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Armada Pictures
• Drum Pty. Ltd.
• VIP 2 Medienfonds

Distributors

• Armada Pictures International (2004) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA | South Africa

Language:

English | Afrikaans | German

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Company:

Armada Pictures

Apartheid for Dummies

In South Africa in the 1950's, young journalist Henry Nxumalo helped fashion the magazine Drum into an outspoken voice against the repressive and dehumanizing effects of apartheid. Director Zola Moseka tells his story, from the lively Harlemesque nightlife of Sophiatown to the courageous infiltration of the farms and prisons outside of Johannesburg.

Taye Diggs gives a moving and multi-dimensional portrayal of Henry, supported by surprisingly strong performances from the entire cast. The film is shot completely in South Africa, and the sets and backdrops make for a much more believable period piece than you would expect to see from its $5 million budget.

One could argue that the movie too often uses an easy cliché and forced screen writing to keep the story tidy. But nevertheless, Drum manages to both educate and entertain. Those of us not intimately familiar with apartheid will find our eyes opened by the parallels to the civil rights struggles of our own country. At the same time, the story of Henry Nxumalo makes for a compelling narrative, and Moseka tells it with honesty and compassion.