The Wooden Camera (2003)

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

First of all I am white. I lived in Observatory and I swear that the music teacher's house is right next my old house on Perth Rd. I worked in Khayelitsha in 1992 and for the skeptics out there, the film was very true to life. I never saw the "beach" where Sipho lived, but the shacks, Shabines, and drunken life was a reality. Many sweet kids like Madiba lived in Khayelitcha when I was there in 1992. The limits of their social mobility as portrayed were very real. I think Ntshavhen must have simply taken a camera (hidden) into the township and filmed. It was that realistic. Believe me, I have been there, spent five days a week 7 hours a day there. Very Real and Madiba is small because many black children are small in ZA.

Okay, I'm not too good reviewing movies but I think there should be more movies like this one. It's gonna be a blockbuster or rated too high on or become a cult but it's a simple man's movie. Cause it won't make you thrilled or keep you thinking but there is a sense of innocence and the characters are natural. The actors have done a great job especially the actors in the role of Sipho and Estelle.The ending of the films is really good. I always thought if there can be such care-free move in the movie and they did it. Maybe, it's possible.I don't get to see such kinda movies a lot. The only one I remember is 'Bluebird' that I recommend to all who liked this movie.

This was a random rental at the video store. But I was impressed from the start. Wooden Camera is a gem of a 2nd feature by an engaging director. The film captures deeply insightful moments and several often times frustrating and complicated social interactions young interracial friends would experience in a modern post apartheid South Africa. The young actors are quite good and well directed in their approach to the core material and the dialogue is natural and interesting. The film is very rich in visuals providing a frame by frame study of deeper understanding and fulfillment without falling into iconic stereotypes and clichés. The musical score to the film adds body to the film without being obtrusive. After watching it the second time, I tracked down the DVD on amazon and have been happy ever since.

I enjoyed very much the movie wooden camera. I think it's a little bit influenced by the Brazilian movie "City of God", but maybe this parallelism between the two tracks possible to follow (crime and art) in social neighborhood are a reality. I think the films made by Madiba are really beautiful. I don't think it's unreal that he shoot such good films, because there's a lot of artists that don't have any type of education and can be really genius. I enjoyed very much the soundtrack. It's adjusted to the pictures.See the movie...it's good to show how can be a life in a social neighborhood.