Posts Tagged ‘south africa’

Lots of firsts for this weeks SMEx… It was the first time we’ve had a dual location event, it was the first event of SMEx’s 3rd year and it was a truly first class film!

After the recent closing of Foxx Cafe, and therefore having nowhere better to go we arrived at Paddy’s Irish Pub for the pre-film catch up.  Most of the conversation was about Anton’s ‘amazing’ party. I use the term ‘amazing’  because apparently no one was sober enough to remember what happened, but thats always a sign of a good party! We also me mentioned that this might be the final outdoor event of the  year, as soon this country will descend into a frozen wasteland. At the same time across the other side of Norway, the temporary Stavanger branch of SMEx were meeting up to also go and see District 9 making this as I mentioned our first dual location same day event!

I was very optimistic about this film… mainly because I had seen it last Sunday in my own special UK SMEx event. You may notice this is my second post in a matter of weeks. This is because after seeing District 9 last week I knew I wanted to write this review.

The film co-written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell and directed by Blomkamp is based on an earlier 6 minute film of his called Alive in Joburg. The premise is that 20 years ago an alien spacecraft arrived at Earth and settled above Johannesburg. Inside the craft were 1 million aliens (referred to by the derogatory term  Prawns) suffering from malnutrition. With the eyes of the world upon them the South African government acted swiftly and moved the Prawns off the ship and into a temporary refugee camp. Over the next 20 years of riots and problems this camp turned into the District 9 slums.  The story follows Wikus Van De Merwe, a man with a certain Gordon Freeman quality to him. He is an employee working at MNU (the company set up to look after the Prawns) and he is in charge of issuing them with notices of eviction from District 9. Needless to say this turns out to be no easy task.

What makes this movie so great in my opinion are a few things;

• The story despite being science fiction, is totally believable, and this is only complemented by the documentary style shooting and low key but incredibly realistic special effects.
• Its very refreshing to see a high profile movie, not set in America, without American actors and quite obviously not aimed an at American audience.
• The movie is rife with social commentary, with obvious references to xenophobia and social segregation made to mirror the problems during Apartheid in South African, and at the same time echoing the currently problems with the mass immigration of Somali, Zimbabwean and other African refugees into South Africa.
• The casting is fantastic, with the actor playing Wikus Van De Merwe giving a Oscar worthy performance.
• South African accents!
• Finally, despite all of the above, things which would normally add up to a quite serious thought provoking film. District 9 at the same time manages to be humorous, entertaining and action packed.

Now, I know I am lavishing out the praise for this movie but its praise which in my opinion, it totally deserves. It is certainly my favourite movie of the year so far, and probably in my top 5 movies of all time. Seeing it a second only a week after my first viewing I still enjoyed it just as much and was astonished at all the new things I noticed. After the movie a few of us went for some post film beers, with most of the discussions centering around, cars, Top Gear and District 9!

Finally, this SMEx was also a last, as we find ourselves loosing Andy who is returning to the UK. All the best of luck in back in the home counties and what a fantastic movie to end your SMEx run on!