Amandla! A Revolution In Four-Part Harmony

Rating:
Summary: "We Shall Overcome" It Ain't
Review: This is an excellent history of the role of music in the anti-aparthied struggle of S/A. Familiar greats like Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masakela are covered as well as interesting lost history such as the tale of Vuyisile Mini (who was hanged in 1964 for fight-the power songs such as "Beware Voeword.").

For the most part, these are not "We Shall Overcome" or "Kum by Ya" type of anthems (though that's cool in it's place). This is hardcore, fight-the power, we ain't gonna take it type of music. Sibongile Kumalo's song about the struggle near the end of the film will bring tears to your eyes-first for the beauty of her voice and THEN when you read the translation! The sequences of the Toyi-toyi (the war dance of S/A) are inspirational and revealing, as is this DVD itself.

Moving scenes abound. A picture is shown of a beautiful S/A teenager sitting prettily on a sofa, then the camera pulls back to reveal that she has a machine gun next to her. One young lady, crying at the funeral of a comrade in the midst of the struggle cries, "I wish I were a dog! I wish I were cattle grazing in the grass!" If you can watch scenes like that with a dry eye then something is WRONG with you!

We also have some extra-rare footage of the young Nelson Mandela (in 1961, prior to his imprisonment) telling of his views on the choice of violence or nonviolence. There is also footage of his sentancing in 1964 and his eventual release. The scenes of his dancing in celebration are a sight to behold!

But enough of this. Get it and see and hear the power that music has over the human spirit! I'd give it ten stars!

Rating:
Summary: More history should be captured this way
Review: This very special documentary about the importance of music in South Africa's anti-apartheid movement captures what really fortifies a people's struggle. While many are aware of South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle, few have recorded or even recognized that this movement's music anchored people long terrorized. Words alone can't fully explain this, but song can. And the recognition of this is the film's genius.

So I wanted more. I almost wish this unique documentary recorded even more of the music to express the evolution of the anti-apartheid movement, instead of how changes in the movement fueled changes in the music. But that's easier said than done with such rich material. Clearly this was a massive undertaking - especially when listening to the revealing commentary from director Lee Hirsch and producer Sherry Simpson-Dean. I've been following their careers for quite awhile and hope to see much more from their partnership.

Rating:
Summary: A fantastic documentary about the power of music
Review: We've all heard cliches about the power of music but this is an amazingly moving film about the real power of music. The movie, shot on a handycam by Lee Hirsch travels through five decades of music and activism in South Africa's history. By looking at the key songs and the men associated with each phase of the struggle, Hirsch does a great job of bringing to life the sheer horror and brutality of everyday life under apartheid. But he also manages to capture the hopes of the revolutionaries through a series of moving and poignant interviews. What struck me about many of the interviews was how spontaneously these activists would break into song to recount their experience. By providing minimal commentary and by letting the songs and men who sang them do the talking, Hirsch has created a masterpiece.

Apart from chronicling the history of the movement, Hirsch also chronicles the lives of many of the activists that the world has forgotten today. The movie opens with the exhumation of Mini's grave to the soulful voice of Vusi Mahlasela. One by one, Hirsch also exhumes heroes and heroines of South Africa's past, particularly musicians, who live only through their songs, and tries to give them their place in the anti-apartheid struggle.

It is also fascinating that the colour of his skin allows Hirsch to shoot some fascinating footage including those of modern white South Africans nostalgic for an earlier age. Hirsch also allows a deft touch of humour to pervade his work, subtly, without ever being disrespectful to his subjects. One of my favourite scenes is where Rathebe recounts how they would sing revolutionary songs and the whites would look at them and praise them for their melody not realising what the actual lyrics were. It's hard to describe that scene in words, but its wonderfully shot and the two matriarchs burst into spontaneous laughter at the memory, and yet the viewer is never allowed to forget the pain of the condescension and humiliation they suffered. Their laughter, like their song, is a slap, even today to those who persecuted them.

I would also recommend buying the Amandla! CD along with this. It contains the full version of many of the songs featured in the documentary including the seminal 'Beware Verwoerd' which runs like an anthem through the anti-apartheid struggle and a fantastic version of Mahlasela's 'When You Come Back' sung, in the movie, in tribute to Vusiliye Mini.