This movie couldn't be further from the truth.
It is very clear that this is a story conceived with American culture in mind and then adapted to the racism, drug trafficking of South Africa.
The performances are unrealistic to real life in Cape Town (and lets bear in mind that Cape Town is a social beat unlike any other South African city), it is a mess.
People do their best to avoid each other or getting involved with the law. The black stripper girl scene would never happen in South Africa. The girl on the horse/beach scene would never happen in South Africa.
If a woman on a horse sees a strange man lurking around an abandoned building on a relatively quiet beach, it is common South African and especially Cape Town sense to steer very clear and just chalk it up to a guy going for a pee.
There is not a chance that she would approach the guy, question the guy and then trust to meet the guy at a police station without ever seeing a badge! That is just utter fantasy.
What I am getting at here is that this story it terribly forced, it it clearly written by someone who has never lived in South Africa or if they have, they do not have a very keen eye and sense for what makes South African people South African people.
Apart from the star cast of Mr Bloom and Mr Whitaker, The rest of the cast is a bevy of B grade actors that made it into the film compliments from the ever-present Capetonian nepotism.
If you look up the SA cast you will find a very intricate web of people that went to school together or are directly linked via blood or some close friend.
Unfortunately the cast director for Zulu was not presented with a list of the best actors it could buy, but a list of 'who thinks they are who' on the Cape Town social/film scene.
It makes me very sad as I was looking forward to watching this film and seeing somebody tackle this subject, but it is clear to me that this film is an even worse botch than The Tourist ever was.
It is very clear that this is a story conceived with American culture in mind and then adapted to the racism, drug trafficking of South Africa.
The performances are unrealistic to real life in Cape Town (and lets bear in mind that Cape Town is a social beat unlike any other South African city), it is a mess.
People do their best to avoid each other or getting involved with the law. The black stripper girl scene would never happen in South Africa. The girl on the horse/beach scene would never happen in South Africa.
If a woman on a horse sees a strange man lurking around an abandoned building on a relatively quiet beach, it is common South African and especially Cape Town sense to steer very clear and just chalk it up to a guy going for a pee.
There is not a chance that she would approach the guy, question the guy and then trust to meet the guy at a police station without ever seeing a badge! That is just utter fantasy.
What I am getting at here is that this story it terribly forced, it it clearly written by someone who has never lived in South Africa or if they have, they do not have a very keen eye and sense for what makes South African people South African people.
Apart from the star cast of Mr Bloom and Mr Whitaker, The rest of the cast is a bevy of B grade actors that made it into the film compliments from the ever-present Capetonian nepotism.
If you look up the SA cast you will find a very intricate web of people that went to school together or are directly linked via blood or some close friend.
Unfortunately the cast director for Zulu was not presented with a list of the best actors it could buy, but a list of 'who thinks they are who' on the Cape Town social/film scene.
It makes me very sad as I was looking forward to watching this film and seeing somebody tackle this subject, but it is clear to me that this film is an even worse botch than The Tourist ever was.