The Bang Bang Club (2010)

A drama based on the true-life experiences of four combat photographers capturing the final days of apartheid in South Africa.

Director:

Steven Silver

Writers:

Greg Marinovich (book), John McBrearty,

Stars:

Ryan Phillippe, Malin Akerman, Taylor Kitsch

7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan Phillippe	...	Greg Marinovich
Malin Akerman	...	Robin Comley
Taylor Kitsch	...	Kevin Carter
Neels Van Jaarsveld	...	João Silva
Frank Rautenbach	...	Ken Oosterbroek
Nina Milner	...	Samantha
Jessica Haines	...	Allie
Russel Savadier	...	Ronald Graham
Lika van den Bergh	...	Vivian
Kgosi Mongake	...	Patrick
Patrick Shai	...	Pegleg
Alfred Kumalo	...	Alf Khumalo (as Alf Khumalo)
Craig Palm	...	Amir
Nick Boraine	...	Colin
Patrick Lyster	...	Jim

Storyline

A drama based on the true-life experiences of four combat photographers capturing the final days of apartheid in South Africa.

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Plot Keywords:

south africa | photographer | apartheid | true life | newspaper office | 

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Taglines:

It's not always black and white

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong brutal violence, disturbing images, pervasive language, some drug use and sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [de]

Country:

Canada South Africa

Language:

English Zulu Xhosa Afrikaans

Release Date:

22 July 2011 (South Africa)

Also Known As:

Fotógrafos de la muerte

Filming Locations:

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Company Credits

Production Co:

Foundry Films, Harold Greenberg Fund, The, Instinctive Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kevin Carter's daughter Megan Carter is featured in the bar scene where she turns around and says 'you must be Ken Oosterbroek'. Standing next to her there is Kevin Carter's step daughter Sian Lloyd.

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Goofs

In the film Kevin Carter plays the song "Just" by Radiohead on his radio show. However the song was released in 1995 after Kevin's death.

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Quotes

Kevin Carter: They're right. All those people who say it's our job to just sit and watch people die. They're right.

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Connections

Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.14 (2011)

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Soundtracks

" Life Is A Gun"
By Jay Malinowski

User Reviews

Internal conflict between observation and action

The war rages on in the final days of apartheid in South Africa. "The Bang Bang Club" is a group of four, young, fearless photographers who drove in head first into the racial fighting. Why they did such a thing is certainly in question. At first, I would chalk it up to the male-driven need for action. Other reasons will be there, but even they question it after awhile.

Writer and director Steven Silver is an established documentarian and this marks his transition into something a little more accessible. This certainly is. It's the type of recent historical story that I want to know more about. We only see the conflicts that are going on in South Africa through the lenses of these young men. The conflicts that take center stage are the internal ones between the good of documenting the violence versus doing something about it. Interestingly, it's when two of them win the Pulitzer Prize that their moral fibre is called into question.

As fearless as the protagonists are, the filmmakers seemed to be a bit more timid. Although the violence is there in full view, it lacked most of the emotional impact it should have had. Unfortunately, this is the reason for the low critics' rating. By the end you will be moved by the story, but you could have been moved all along.

I found that it was a great point of view to an interesting time. It was shot on location and achieved a great look for an independent film with the fraction of a Hollywood budget. "The Bang Bang Club" is a good movie, a great story, and it's worth experiencing.