DRUM

South Africa/US, 2004, 96 minutes, Colour.
Taye Diggs, Gabriel Mann, Jason Flemyng.
Directed by Zola Moseka.

Here is a very interesting journey into South African history in the mid-1950s.

Drum was a cultural and popular magazine that began to take on issues that were more and more political, its reporters doing investigative journalism and providing a forum for critique of the apartheid regime. This film follows one of its black journalists on a personal journey of awareness, full of danger and potential disaster.

The film is challenging insofar as the hero is not a saint. His infidelity to his patient wife leads her to urge him to do something authentic in his work. This eventually leads him to pose as a worker on a farm and experience the harsh conditions, including a whipping. He gets himself arrested and exposes the severe and humiliating conditions for black prisoners. The magazine sells well but incurs the wrath of the powers that be and the police who are unscrupulous, even using the black gangsters who want their faces on the cover of the magazine to do their dirty work.

The film is South African but the makers have Hollywood experience and this shows in the craft that has gone into the film. Again, a Hollywood star has been employed, Taye Diggs. Usually in light romantic comedies on the big screen or on television, he gives one of his best performances as Jason Flemyng has a good role as the magazine editor who encourages his writers but is subject to pressure and threats.

The atmosphere of Johannesburg and, especially Sophiatown, which at that time was a locale where black and white could mix but which was soon to be taken over, are effectively re-created for an absorbing and saddening drama.

1. A product of the South African industry, craft, style? American influences? South African themes?

2. A portrait of the mid-1950s in South Africa, Johannesburg, Sofiatown? The streets and houses, the clubs? The offices for Drum?

3. Apartheid in South Africa, in force from 1948, laws, the enforcing of the laws, Major Stegler? The local police, the black police? Racist attitudes? Religious beliefs – the whites born to rule, the blacks to serve the whites? Segregation in practice, curfews, laws against mixed sexuality? The churches? Sofiatown and its destruction, change? As seen from the 21st century point of view and knowledge of a history?

4. Nelson Mandela and the ANC in the 50s, stances, attitudes, demonstrations and protests? The character of Mandela – and from hindsight? His wanting to use situations to the advantage of confronting the South African government?

5. The international cast, the American leads, the British actor, the South African cast?

6. The musical score, songs, rhythms?

7. The introduction to Sofiatown, the information, the live and let live, race equality? The opening boxing match, the audience responses, Henry as covering the match as a journalist? The magazine, Drum? The aftermath, in the clubs, drinking, the singer and Henry’s relationship with her? Ken, his short stories, drinking? Jurgen and his ability with photos? The Drum staff?

8. The magazine, the staff both black and white, Jim Bailey as editor, his open attitudes? The atmosphere of the office, the style of producing the magazine? The journalists, the anniversary issue, Jim wanting Henry to cover the story of the gangsters? The cover? Their meeting up with the gangsters, the fight – and the murder in the streets, the people watching, Jurgen and the photos? The aftermath, the gangsters’ complaints that they were not on the cover, the confrontation with Jurgen? Their agreeing to the set-up for the protest, to be on the cover? The sad irony of the gangster paid to kill Henry and talking with him, stabbing him? His explanations of why he did it?

9. Henry and his life, his place in the magazine, good relationship with Bailey, the staff, drinking? His affair with the singer? Going home to his wife, family? Her taunt about his ignoring social issues and just providing entertainment? The consequences for him, his work, his protests, his death, her grief?

10. The old woman at the magazine, the explanation about the taking of her son and his imprisonment for a year? Henry and his idea for infiltrating the farm? His pretending to be poor and ignorant, begging the boss for a job, his card being torn up, the hard labour, the whippings, the attitude of the boss, of the black foreman? The discovery of the buried hand? His decision to leave, Jurgen picking him up in the car, the pursuit on horseback, the boss shooting? The article, the cover photo? The number of copies sold? Bailey and his throwing of the party for the staff and friends?

11. The arrests, people going to prison? Henry’s decision to go to prison, Bailey’s tacit permission? Pretending to be drunk in the main street, insulting passers-by, accosting the woman, arrested? The humiliation in the prison, the treatment, naked, running, the article?

12. The Sofiatown issue, going to the office with Jurgen, Jurgen charming the attendant, her showing the plans, their stealing them? Bailey and his hesitation, wanting facts? Major Stegler’s visit and putting the pressure on Bailey?

13. Henry and the affair, the singer at the club, the issue of her ownership of the club or not? Henry’s decision to break the relationship? His wife’s being upset at the party, seeing the woman, her finding the earrings? Her giving him the good meal – and her willingness to forgive him?

14. Jim Bailey, English, hard-working, his being at home with black and white? The English visitors – and the faux pas about calling Henry a plucky boy? The interactions with Major Stegler? The celebration at his home, signing the pass for Henry and Flo to go home? Stegler instilling fear? The demonstration, his having to tell the news of Henry’s death to Florence? His presence at the funeral?

15. Ken, the teacher, drinking, waking up with the students, losing his job? His continued drinking, not writing well, being asked for research? The attraction towards the white girl, the relationship? Knowing the dangers, in the street and her having to say that he was her driver after the police attacked him? The arrest? His decision to leave? His being there at the end?

16. Jurgen, his background, at home in South Africa, his skill with photos? The Sofiatown maps? His rescuing Henry? His sadness at Henry’s death?

17. The members of the staff, their research, the quality of the magazine?

18. Florence, her relationship with Henry, long-suffering, urging him to go beyond entertainment, her growing fears, saying that he was helping others but not protecting the family, her forgiving him the affair? His death, her dignity at the funeral?

19. Stegler, the fact of apartheid, its enforcement, its philosophy?

20. The film in the light of the history of the 20th century, the apartheid years, the end of apartheid, the post-apartheid era?

21. Henry and his death, the dignity, the confrontation with his killer, knowing what was happening, a martyr for the cause?