HEART OF THE HUNTER

South Africa, 2024, 105 minutes, Colour.

Bonko Khoza, Connie Ferguson, Maasasa Mbangeni, Tim Theron, Peter Butler, Nicole Fortuin, Sisanda Henna, Milan Murray, Deon Coetzee. Wanda Banda.

Directed by Mandla Dube.

With the ending of apartheid, the South African film industry has developed, not only local films, but also opportunities for American and European productions taking advantage of financial help and African locations. While there has been looking back at the apartheid period, there are also the developments of dramas in the new South Africa.

This thriller presupposes a corrupt politician able to manipulate and to blackmail those with secrets in the past so that he can eventually stand for election as President. He lives a corrupt and extravagant decadent lifestyle. He is aware of the threats, documentation that would expose him. He has a second in command, a woman whose father collaborated with the apartheid regime, who is skilled in surveillance and ruthless. She also has a strong staff and quite elaborate surveillance equipment.

However, the hero of this story is a former member of a rebel group from the countryside, working as an assassin, conscience struck when he was confronted with a young man, refusing to kill him. He then meets a woman with her son, marries her, bonding with the boy, happy family. But, is contacted by a former leader of the uprising who alerts him to documentation that could bring down the would-be President.

He is initially unwilling, taken into custody, his wife interrogated, the boy captured. He is helped by other members of the uprising, especially a young woman who has infiltrated the surveillance staff. There is also a newspaper reporter, now drunken, and an eager assistant, who is contacted also by the uprising leader and alerted to the documentation.

Tension, travels through the countryside, the retrieval of the documents, contact with the journalists, confrontations with those working for the would-be President, shootouts and deaths.

However, of course, justice finally prevails. An interesting action film with contemporary speculations and themes.

1. A South African story? Politics, corruption, rebel groups, action?
2. South African locations, the city, homes, the police, the mansions of corrupt politicians, surveillance officers? The range of the countryside and its beauty, location for action? The musical score?
3. Zuko’s story, strong character, the story from the past, the hooded confrontation, wanting documents in the bag, the killing, the sparing of life? Zuko as a past hired assassin? The effect of this raid, his changing, the scenes of his encounter with his wife, her son and the bonding, then marrying, the happy family life, the strong relationship with the boy?
4. The explanation of the political situation, the corrupt politician, his lifestyle, manipulation, the chance of his becoming president? Documents of exposure, the possibility of their being published? Mo as his deputy, in charge of surveillance, her staff, surveillance equipment?
5. Johnny Klein, his contact with Zuko, the explanation of the past, the group, the uprising, the documentation, the earth and commitment, leading to the downfall of the corrupt politician? Klein and his past, responsibilities, out of favour, having the documents, burying them, the appeal to Zuko’s loyalty, the pursuit, at the end of the bridge, his death?
6. Mo, the background of her father, mixed race, his supporting the apartheid regime? Mtimi and his hold over her? Her staff, Beth? Mo and her ruthlessness, working outside the law? Overstepping the law? Beth, loyal, later qualms? Neladi, working with Mo, the infiltration, the later action, her oath, supporting?

Zuko’s wife, taken, the interrogation, the severity, Neladi helping her escape, having to jump, her falling to her death? Mtimi and taking the boy?

7. The journalist’s story, past investigations, drinking, the connection to Johnny Klein? The young apprentice, straightforward, working with him? The investigations, uncovering the information, getting the documents, the publication? Contribution to the unmasking of Mtimi?
8. The action sequences, Neladi and her help, the other members of the team, Zuko travelling through the countryside, recovering the documents? The confrontation with Mo, the threat to the boy?
9. The sequences with the troops, Tiger, his role, the helicopters, the men, the shootings? His change of heart? Confrontation with Zuko? His death?
10. Team, his lifestyle, presumption that he would be elected, the exposure, his downfall?
11. The background of South African history, apartheid, uprisings, local districts and political upheaval? The corruption story set in the post apartheid era?