IMDb > Alive in Joburg (2005)

Alive in Joburg (2005) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
7.9/10   1,312 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Down 20% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Neill Blomkamp

Contact:

View company contact information for Alive in Joburg on IMDbPro.

Genre:

Short | Sci-Fi more

Plot:

An eerie tale of a close encounter of the third kind in Johannesburg. | add synopsis

NewsDesk:
(15 articles)

'District 9' Grew Out of 'Halo' Collapse, Short Film's Success
 (From The Wrap. 11 November 2009, 4:05 PM, PST)

No 'District 9' Sequel Until the Story Is Figured Out
 (From Aceshowbiz. 2 November 2009, 11:24 PM, PST)

User Comments:

Impressive Dramatic, Documentary-Style, Sci-Fi Thriller more (11 total)


Cast

  (Credited cast)
Dawie Ackermann ... Afrikaans Professor
Jason Cope ... UN Official / Alien

Sharlto Copley ... Sniper
Braam Greyling ... Cop 1
Godfrey Seome ... Cop 2
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:

6 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Spy Films more


Fun Stuff

Quotes:

Alien: We don't want to be here, this place doesn't want us... we have nothing, nothing. more

Movie Connections:

Remade as District 9 (2009) more


FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
7 out of 8 people found the following comment useful.
Impressive Dramatic, Documentary-Style, Sci-Fi Thriller, 16 October 2007
9/10
Author: ShortoftheWeek from United States

This impressive short takes a documentary form, but it's definitely no Christopher Guest style mockumentary. Instead it's got aliens—really realistic looking ones, with mech-style "bio-suits". Set in an imaginary South Africa where aliens have landed and taken up residence, Alive in Joburg poses as a documentary intent on examining how life has changed for residents there, interchanging interviews with realistic CG. The visuals are excellent and while the film's attempt to equate the aliens reception by locals with South Africa's Apartheid era are somewhat transparent, any attempt at social metaphor earns kudos from me.

The director, Neill Blomkamp, is celebrated for his advertising work, and won for himself— based largely on this short I would presume—the directing gig for the new Halo film. I must say, based on this film, it looks like a truly inspired choice.

Check out all of our weekly reviews at ShortoftheWeek.com

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Alive in Joburg (2005)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Blomkamp a Racist? mcselens_reservat
Few games that should be made into movies by this guy! fuzzy_maiden
Neill Blomkamp, to possibly direct 'Halo' PhyrVurm
What about Half-Life? brent2005
more

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