Bang Bang Club, The (DVD) Min: 103DD5.1WS [Import germany]

This is the s true story of a group of photo journalists, who came to fame during the civil war that saw South Africa finally end apartheid. It is based on the book of one of them; Greg Marinovich (Ryan Phillippe - `54', `Cruel Intentions' and `The Lincoln Lawyer'). Greg was a freelance but managed to get taken seriously by getting up close and personal with the warring sides. The ANC were in a civil war with the `Authorities' who were being helped by the Zulu Inkatha Freedom Movement. Atrocities were being perpetrated by both sides, but the press was very much on the side of the ANC and working to strict censorship from the ruling white government. Greg went out of his way to hear what Inkatha ha to say - and show him, it is not all pleasant.

We follow the fortunes of Greg and one of the more laid back members of the `gang', Kevin Carter (Taylor Kitsch) who has a penchant for recreational cigarettes and an excellent eye for a good photo. Greg also falls for the Photo Editor - Robin Comley (Malin Akerman) something which she says she never does. In one scene as they enter a bar there is a poster that proclaims, `A Civil War s not Very Relaxing', well we soon find out why. There are graphic scenes of violence, with extensive use of machetes and not a lot being left to the imagination. There is real tension throughout and loads of extras involved in the street and ghetto fighting. Writer and director Steven Silver has done an excellent job to try to recreate the actions that took place and are both from the book and the actual original photos.

The film tracks mainly the four year period between 1990 and 1994 and for the most part does so as observer with an interloper feel. The question of `when do you intervene', is finally addressed, but to say any more would be a plot spoiler for those not familiar with what took place. I always find that some photographers of death and suffering are almost indecent voyeurs, however; the fear and passion that is needed to do such work is brilliantly captured. It is always easier for the casual observer to be critical of such actions, when they have not actually done the deed themselves.

This is an excellent piece of cinema that has brought to the screen an essential piece of African recent history, if you are interested in that period then this is a must see. A word on the acting, everybody puts in excellent to well above credible performances and the direction is great too. There has been criticism of the shaky camera during certain scenes, but as these are street battles I found it totally unobtrusive and even fairly realistic. I feel all involved should be justifiably proud of the film they have made.

I liked this film. Hard hitting (though I do have trouble hearing some of the dialogue and you do need to know a bit about teh history of South Africa). This isn't about Apartheid but rather the inter-racial tensions between the ANC, Zulus and Inkatha. Its a violent story with real images of death and horror so it is not for the faint-hearted. But it is also the story of 4 photographers and their goal to document the violence, two of the photographers ending up with Pulitzer Prize. The film does not hold back and holds your attention for the who story. I liked it and will read the book now as a number of the reviewers feel its better than the film. By the way, Taylor Kitsch (Tim Riggings of Friday Night Lights and John Carter of John Carter) is excellent in this.

I enjoyed this film largely because there are few films about photographers working under conditions of war like this one. Set in South Africa during the era before the end of the Apartheid years it tells the story of a group of hard living photographers working under extreme circumstances. It is based on a true story and one good thing about the DVD are the extras with interviews with the real characters around which it is based. From that point of view it is a bargain compared to some DVD releases. A good film, made well, great acting and thought provoking action.