Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema
(2008)
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| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema
(2008)
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| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Rapulana Seiphemo | ... |
Lucky Kunene
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Jeffrey Zekele | ... |
Nazareth
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Ronnie Nyakale | ... |
Zakes Mbolelo
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Shelley Meskin | ... |
Leah Friedlander
(as Shelly Meskin)
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Malusi Skenjana | ... |
Tony Ngu
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| Robert Hobbs | ... |
Inspector Blakkie Swart
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Jafta Mamabolo | ... |
Young Kunene
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Motlatsi Mahloko | ... |
Young Zakes
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Kenneth Nkosi | ... |
Lucas Sithole
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Sally Burdett | ... |
News reader
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Lerato Moloi | ... |
Loretta Dlamini
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Thandy Matlaila | ... |
Young Nomsa
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Mzwandile Ngubeni | ... |
Young Bull
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Gladys Mahlangu | ... |
Mama Kunene
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Patrick Bakoba | ... | |
Starting off with simple smash and grabs, and petty crime, Lucky Kunene quickly graduates to more aggressive heists such as armed robbery and carjacking. Soon, Lucky realizes he needs a bigger score to fulfill his goals of making it big, and escaping from the slums, to a dream house by the sea. Kunene hatches an elaborate and violent plan to make his fortune - hijacking buildings from landlords of Johannesburg tenements by winning the favor of the tenants and then holding their rent hostage from the landowners. His high-profile real estate acquisitions attract the attention of the local police force who have no qualms about using unprovoked brutality to bring him down. His trouble with the law, coupled with an escalating war between a local drug lord, creates a tense standoff: both sides are closing in, and Kunene must stay one step ahead--or his empire, and his life, will come crashing down. Written by Official Site
Saw Jerusalema last weekend. I found the film to be an engaging, moving, and important reminder that the strangest worlds are right under our noses. Fast paced, gritty and in your face
I loved Rapulana Simpiwe in the lead, a stunning young talent, Jafta Mamabolo who played the young Kunene is fantastic.
The script is excellent, reassuringly tight and Carried me effortlessly through the journey.
This is the story of how a intelligent kid with the same hopes and dreams as anyone else; an education, work hard, get a degree and live his dreams through legitimate means, succumbs, despite himself, to a life of crime because it is his only course available.
It accurately portrays the universal genesis of crime and loss of innocence and righteousness (the symbol of which of course was the mother with her hand pressed tightly on her bible).
I don't know what's happening with the film in terms of its international release, but I would sincerely hope that many others will have the memorable experience that we did.