AmaZulu: The Children of Heaven

AmaZulu: The Children of Heaven is a 2006 British documentary film directed by Hannan Majid and Richard York. The film follows seven teenagers in a township in Umlazi as they come together to learn under the leadership of headmaster, Mr. Mtshali at Velabahleke High School.

AmaZulu: The Children of Heaven
Directed byHannan Majid
Richard York
Produced byDenise York
CinematographyNico Millar
Hannan Majid
Edited byElisa Cherene Holliday
Music byHopewell Mpabanga
Production
companies
Release date
2006
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguagesZulu
English
Budget£80,000

Summary

The film show life in the South African township of Durban's Umlazi through seven pupils of Velabahleke High School, Velabahleke ("Come with a Smile"), as they come together under their headmaster Mr Mtshali.

The aspirations and everyday lives of the pupils, both in and out of school, interweave to form a story of a generation striving to transcend their disadvantaged backgrounds, hope and dream of a new purpose-driven life, and aspire to achieve their goals.

Appearances
  • Cindy Cele
  • Nonhlanhla Mtshali
  • Zakhele Khuzwayo
  • Thembi Mlabo
  • Nkosinathi Mgiyako
  • Nkosinathi Hadebe
  • Sbonelo Dladla
  • Mbongeni Mtshali

Development

AmaZulu was financed by The Northern Film Foundation and Leeds Metropolitan University. The film's directors, Richard York and Hannan Majid, said that the purpose of the film was "To raise awareness and help in the eradication of social injustice across the world through the power of film."[1]

Release

AmaZulu premiered at the Durban International Film Festival in June 2006.[2] It also participated at the Cape Town International Film Festival 2006, Closing Film Cambridge African Film Festival 2006, Zithengi Film Market 2006,[3] Aljazeera International Documentary Film Festival 2007,[1] SABC Africa on Screen Film Festival 2007, Medimed 2007[3] and Mosaiques International Film Festival 2010.[4]

The South African government screened the film to teachers around the country and it was also shown in the Tower Hamlets borough in London.[5][6]

Reception

Debbie Myburg of The South African described AmaZulu as "a moving and compelling narrative, an interweaving of different stories showing a generation striving to achieve what could be theirs in a new South Africa."[5] Rasha Mohammad of OnIslam said, "With their seven young heroes, they render through the screen how children are struggling there, surrounded by poverty and apartheid, facing a world of madness where words, ideas, and policies are twisted so they do not know what the truth actually is."[1]

Durban International Film Festival said, "Amazulu is a powerful and inspiring narrative".[2][7]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Result
2008 Nantes British Film Festival Best Film Won

See also

References
  1. Mohammad, Rasha (3 May 2007). "AmaZulu: The Children of Heaven". OnIslam. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  2. "27th Durban International Film Festival.(Life)". The Mercury. South Africa. 22 June 2006. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  3. "Amazulu: The Children Of Heaven". Rainbow Collective. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  4. "Bafana – AmaZulu: The Children of Heaven (Double Bill)". mosaïques. June 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  5. Myburg, Debbie (13 June 2011). "Hope amidst the hardship". South Africa: The South African. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  6. "Township school shines in Children of Heaven documentary". South Africa: SA Times. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  7. "Films". Films For Food. Retrieved 1 February 2015. AmaZulu: The Children of Heaven
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