Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony Movie Review:


As this award-winning documentary beautifully examines the music of the struggle for freedom in South Africa, it also provides one of the most moving and gripping accounts of the country's last 65 years. "Amandla" means power, the cry of a people unjustly imprisoned in their own homeland, and filmmaker Hirsch cleverly keeps his cameras in the faces of musicians, activists and politicians who played a role in the struggle against Apartheid. Combining old footage with new interviews and musical performances, Hirsch gets into the heart and soul of the situation, from the introduction of segregation in 1948 to modern-day attempts to put the years into perspective. And the music is the thing, expressing the passions and longings of a spiritual and emotional people.

This is an expertly assembled film, catching us by the throat early on with the deeply resonant songs and anecdotes, and then tweaking our minds as well with a detailed look at Apartheid from an inside perspective. While the archival footage is colourful and revealing, including a number of old government films and docs, Hirsch shoots his new material with gorgeously bleached-yet-lush cinematography that adds an artistic tone to the film. He also constantly disarms the political arguments by focussing on the emotional reactions of the various people involved (including a chilling sequence with a group of white ex-cops reminiscing about trying to contain the protesting mobs). Hirsch also makes sure he presents the whole story, talking with terrorists and protestors both black and white. As we trace the years, the film centres on haunting songs of frustration, protest, solidarity, lamentation and begging for understanding from God as to why an entire people group has been forgotten. Not only is this a moving account of musical expression, but it's also a lucid and intensely valuable examination of the chronology of events ... and how a nation survived through desperation, willpower and strong-mindedness. Power to the people indeed.

Rich Cline

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