5 Underappreciated South African Films

This is, believe it or not, the 18th entry in the Underappreciated Films series. Wow! That's all I can say; but what can I do for the 18th entry? Well, how about looking at 5 Underappreciated Films from my home country? Here are 5 Underappreciated South African Films.

Let's get started!

5: Nothing for Mahala (2013)

Nothing for Mahala follows a man who tends to make a mess of everything as he learns the value of charity and doing things for mahala. I saw this with my dad and siblings when it came out and it's a riot.

Compassion before ambition is the moral message here and the film takes great pains to avoid beating viewers over the head with it. The city of Johannesburg is well shot for the film and the performances and comedy are all spot on.

Since its release in 2013, Nothing for Mahala seems to have vanished into thin air. For those who are wondering, 'Mahala' means free.

4: The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)

Of all the films on this list, I think this is probably the best known internationally. Sadly, it seems to have dropped off the grid - so to speak. Written, produced, and directed by Jamie Uys, The Gods Must Be Crazy was released in 1980 and became the most successful release for the film industry in South Africa at the time. The film became the subject of controversy when it was released in the United States but grossed $200 million at the box office on a $5 million budget - note: these are the only numbers I could get for budget and box office.

The film begins with a narrator explaining that the San tribe (called the Bushmen in the film) of the Kalahari is largely untouched by modern society. They live off the land and view everything in the desert as a gift from their gods. One day, a member of the tribe, Xi, finds a glass Coca Cola bottle that had been dropped out of a plane and takes it back to his tribe...you can see where this is going, can't you?

The bottle causes some unexpected problems in the tribe and Xi resolves to take it to the edge of the world (God's Window) and return it to the gods.

In addition to Xi's story, we have a band of guerrillas on the run from the government and a school teacher being escorted to a village by a clumsy biologist.

This is one of those films that I saw as a kid and it's been a favorite ever since. The story is good, the humor is on point, and it's one of those films that you can watch with the whole family because even the violence is slapstick. If you haven't seen this one then I'd highly recommend checking it out.

3: The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2001)

Usually, when people think of The Sorcerer's Apprentice; they think of either the Disney short with Mickey Mouse or the Nicholas Cage film. This version from 2002 is largely unknown - unless you've already watched it.

The film follows a boy named Ben Clark as he moves from South Africa to the UK and becomes a constant target for harassment. His fascination with magic leads him to his neighbor, a man named Milner (Robert Davi), who is really the legendary Merlin. Ben quickly finds himself joining his mentor to save the world from the evil Morgana - played wonderfully by Kelly LeBrock.

I will admit I don't remember all that much about this film beyond that it had a mostly South African cast. This movie is slow in places and the main story takes a while to get going but once it does you can't look away. The performances are great, the locations are great, the story is good, there's not much to dislike here. It's a film that doesn't get a whole lot of attention nowadays which is sad.

2: Oh Shucks! Here Comes UNTAG (1990)

Leon Schuster is a comedic legend in South Africa and, while his latest works may not be his best, there are many films from which to choose. I decided to include this one.

The film follows Kwagga Robertse (Schuster), a farmer in the fictional country of Nanbabwe, who spends his time conning foreign tourists with fake lion killings, working with the native tribes, and fending off attempts by his brother to purchase the farm. One day a United Nations platoon comes in and the corrupt platoon leader starts causing problems and Kwagga goes on the warpath with hilarious and brutal vengeance!

I don't want to say too much more because I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it but I will say that it's worth a watch!

1: Funny People (1977)

Who remembers Candid Camera? It was one of a series of prank shows where the hosts would set someone up with a ridiculous job and/or play a trick on them. The victim would be confused and then freak out a bit when the cameras were pointed out to them.

This formula would repeat over and over again until the end of the episode and, back when the shows were actually good, they were great fun. Funny People is another of Jamie Uys's works, it came out in 1977 and was a smash hit. There's no plot to speak of; it's all camera pranks. My personal favorites were the bakery and talking mail box.

This one is largely ignored nowadays, but it is available to watch on YouTube for new generations to discover and enjoy.

I hope you all enjoyed the article, definitely check these films out they're worth your time! Thanks for reading, and I'll see you next time.