Sunday, August 05, 2007


AUGUST 2007 line-up

7/8: “Stander”
14/8: “Where Is The Love” & “Getting It On” & other short films
21/8: “The Death of Pelican-16”
28/8: Film Appreciation 101 (Lesson 3 - 1920’s Avante Garde Cinema)

and a variety of music videos and short films during every show.

(Scroll down for more about alt film)


Film descriptions

STANDER

Dir: Bronwyn Hughes
SA 2003
115 mins
Courtesy of the producer

Stander is the gripping true story of the life of Andre Stander, the youngest captain in the Johannesburg Police Force and South Africa's most notorious bank robber.

Portrayed by Tom Jane (The Punisher, 61*) in a mercurial, star-turn performance, Andre Stander is a young, white policeman enjoying the comforts of middle-class married life in late-1970s South Africa, a country riven by Apartheid. Deeply affected by the indiscriminate killing he witnesses and takes part in during Riot Patrol, Stander wordlessly makes a decision to defy the very system he has spent a lifetime enforcing. Stander’s form of civil disobedience, however, takes an unusual form: a series of audacious, high-flying bank robberies, with the young officer oftentimes returning to the scene of the crime as the lead investigating officer.

Finally apprehended by his colleagues, Stander is jailed and subsequently befriends outlaws Allen Heyl and Lee McCall. Following a daring prison break, the "Stander Gang" commits dozens of bank robberies across the country, heists that grow increasingly bolder over time. In the eyes of the public, the Stander Gang's nose-thumbing disrespect for authority makes them into near-legendary folk heroes, modern-day equivalents of Bonnie and Clyde. To the South African government, however, the former police officer is a cause of embarrassment, and the Stander Gang becomes the most wanted men in the country.

Equal parts heist movie, love story, and historically accurate indictment of a corrupt political institution, Stander is the most riveting, uncanny biopic in recent history.

Film Appreciation 101

An alt film initiative! Every month we present a short class on the medium of film, covering a wide range of topics. By charting the history timeline of filmmaking, we hope to educate and foster a new sense of appreciation for this art form and also a positive reception and renewed interests in what’s happening in modern day cinema. Each class is structured around a period, movement or theme.

August 2007: Lesson 3 - 1920’s Avante Garde Cinema
The age of revolutionary cinema! At this moment in time the best cinema wasn’t happening in Hollywood, it was occurring in Denmark, Germany and various countries around the world. In this section of Film Appreciation, we look at the images that changed cinema forever - from Eisenstein’s unique editing style, better known as the montage, Wiena’s use of Chiascuro lighting, Oson Welles’ framing and focus breakthroughs, and various others. And just for added fun, we’ll show you a few modern examples of how influential these cinematic advancements really were.

THE DEATH OF PELICAN-16

Dir: Andrew White
SA 2004
60 mins
Courtesy of the producer

Pelican-16 was one of eight Avro Shackleton maritime patrol aircraft commissioned by the South African Air Force in 1954. In 1993, a Shackleton enthusiast had the ambitious plan to restore one of these now decommissioned aircraft and turn it into a flying museum. The name of this aircraft: Pelican-16.

In mid 1994, after ten years on the ground and two years of restoration work this last Shackleton flew again. Following an invitation to take part in the 1994 summer air-show circuit in the UK, Pelican-16 and its crew of 19 took off from Cape Town and headed north. But then in the dead of the blackest night, high over the Western Sahara the unthinkable happened; two engines on the starboard side failed within a period of just ten minutes. The aircraft and its crew went down.

In an absorbing documentary, this remarkable story is told by the men who dared to dream. What makes this film unusual is that there are no re-creations; Real life footage was recorded by the crew as the story unfolded and together with vibrant testimonials, a crew reunion and new footage of Pelican-16’s flying replacement, Pelican-22, create a dramatic and moving story.

It is a story of courage, tenacity, professionalism and friendship which has become one of the greats in the annals of South African aviation. A central theme of the film, portrayed through the survival of the nineteen crew members, is the uncanny skill of the senior flight commander, Major Eric ‘Oompie’ Pienaar who put Pelican-16 down in the Sahara Desert in one piece, with no injury to the crew.

During the production of the film, Major Pienaar lost a long battle with cancer late 2002 and his ashes were scattered over Table Bay from the last remaining serviceable Shackleton Mk3, now resident in Cape Town. The memorial service on board, included in the closing scenes, creates a memorable and moving picture of gratitude and admiration by the crew for their fallen comrade.

WHERE IS THE LOVE

SA 2007
15 mins
Street Children of Cape Town & Innermedia


This inspiring screening involves both a music video about life on the streets of Cape Town, and a short documentary about the work done by the MylifE project.

In 2002, MylifE was born as a Section 21 Company (not for profit). The aim of MylifE is to prevent and divert young people from entering the “Cycle of Destruction” that exists on the streets, in the communities and prisons. The outcome of MylifE is emotionally, socially and economically independent young leaders and the creation of a deeper understanding of the challenges in this sector by wider society. http://www.mylife.org.za/

GETTING IT ON

Dir: Mpho Osei-Tutu
SA 2006
2 mins
Courtesy of the director


In the heat of the moment, a guy and girl take a brief moment to get… protection! A short film about what can happen to you if you don’t educate yourself properly.

Best overall Short Cut – 2006 Multichoice Vuka! Awards


More about alt film

alt film is a free film screening event, at Zula Sound Bar every Tuesday. We play all kinds of interesting films to all kinds of interesting people.

alt film is an interactive and open two-way platform, available to everyone to utilise in creative ways, to encourage dialogue and thinking about moving images.
It is there for filmmakers (dazzle the audience with your work, or simply get objective feedback from the public), and it is there for the general public (see a film show that won’t cost you a cent, and get an idea of what the local film industry is doing).
We wish to empower everyone involved to become more visually literate, and to cultivate an educated sense of quality with regards to the art of filmmaking.

We want to present as many South African films as possible, so feel free to submit your film for screening in this comfortable and sociable setting, with Zula’s sound system making the difference to your experience.
Let us know what you want to see – your input may just cause spontaneous reactions.
Or just come over, sit down, and open your eyes.
The restaurant and bar provides the necessary culinary ingredients to keep your tummy happy. And if you wish to stay for some aural pleasure, Zula presents the Acoustic Sessions, a free musical jam session just after alt film.

Special thanks to:

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