Searching for Sugarman (2012)

a documentary film directed by Malik Bendjelloul, which details the efforts of two Cape Town fans in the late 1990s, Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom, to find out whether the rumoured death of American musician Sixto Rodriguez was true, and, if not, to discover what had become of him. Rodriguez's music, which never took off in the United States, had become wildly popular in South Africa, but little was known about him there.

Excellent. Engrossing story, excellent music.

Why I left Goldman Sachs

Interesting look at the culture of Gokdman Sachs, by an insider.

White Wedding

Fun film. Started out strong and funny, weakened at the end, especially in its use of predictable and wooden stereotypes. Nonetheless, even in its use of two-dimensional white supremacists, the film makes good points

Invictus

Put in Clint Eastwood, Morgan, Freeman and Matt Damon, add Nelson Mandela, and who will criticize it? 2009 film got 75% at RottenTomatoes.com (Delivered with typically stately precision from director Clint Eastwood, Invictus may not be rousing enough for some viewers, but Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman inhabit their real-life characters with admirable conviction.) I was not terribly impressed: acting was excellent, but it seemed clichéd.

Sarafina!

Still not easy to watch, all these years later. 1992 film. Well done.

Catch a fire

Excellent film. Derek Luke is magnificent as Patrick Chamusso, Bonnie Henna does a very good job as Precious, and the film evokes the South Africa of 1980 quite well. A grand film.

The true story of a South African hero's journey to freedom. In the country's turbulent and divided times in the 1980s, Patrick Chamusso is an oil refinery foreman and soccer coach who is apolitical. That is, until he and his wife Precious are jailed. Patrick is stunned into action against the country's oppressive reigning system, even as police Colonel Nic Vos further insinuates himself into the Chamussos' lives.

Tim Robbins is very good as Vos, and deserves credit for playing such a vicious, despicable character.

Playing the enemy

Playing the enemy : Nelson Mandela and the game that made a nation.
Carlin, John. (2008). New York: Penguin Press.