The Wooden Camera (2003)

A township near Cape Town. Two young teens, Madiba and Sipho, find a gun and a camera. Sipho takes the gun, and Madiba the camera, sealing their fate.

Director:

Ntshaveni Wa Luruli

Writers:

Yves Buclet, Peter Speyer

Stars:

Junior Singo, Dana de Agrella, Innocent Msimango

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Junior Singo	...	Madiba
Dana de Agrella	...	Estelle
Innocent Msimango	...	Sipho
Lisa Petersen	...	Louise
Nicholas Jara	...	Benny
Lynita Crofford	...	TV Reporter
Nomhle Nkonyeni	...	Servant
Thembi Mtshali	...	Madiba's Mother
Jean-Pierre Cassel	...	Mr. Shawn
Fats Bookholane	...	Madiba's Father
Bo Petersen	...	Estelle's Mother
Andre Jacobs	...	Estelle's Father

Storyline

Kayelitsha, South-Africa, today. 2003 A township, close to Cape-town, after the end of Apartheid. Two kids, 14, Madiba and Sipho play along the railway. A train passes by. A dead man rolls to their feet. On him, they find a gun and a video camera. Sipho takes the gun and Madiba the camera. Their destiny is sealed. Benny, their friend makes a wooden camera and Madiba hides the video inside, in order to avoid embarrassing questions, racketing etc. He starts filming the township and its inhabitants. He discovers the strange beauty of his life's setting. Sipho, the boss, brings his friends to Cape-town, the white city, so close, so far, so exotic to the eyes of the children. While Sipho forms a gang with the street children and makes all kinds of illicit trading, Madiba films the town, its huge buildings, its business life, and its luxury. In a bookstore, he films a young white girl, stealing a book. They look at each other. Going out of the store, she drops book on road, knowing he will ...

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Plot Keywords:

gun | video camera | runaway child | male teen prostitution | brother sister relationship | 

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Genres:

Family

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France UK South Africa

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 July 2004 (France)

Also Known As:

Träkameran

Company Credits

Production Co:

ODELION, Richard Green & Associates, Tall Stories

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Excellent Film

This film is amazing, while not perfect by Hollywood standards it encompasses a gentle look at the wide divide between rich and poor, black and white that is true in many parts of the world. It handles the audience with kid gloves while delivering a truthful look at societal problems. The children are beautiful, take special note of the young man who plays Sipho. The friendships that develop are universally true, anyone can relate to the choices these young people have to make. The influence of adults is interesting - it appears to be taken from real life experiences as there are snip-its of conversations and interactions-much like a child would remember experiencing. I would highly recommend this film.