100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 64: Zulu

Director: Jéróme Salle

Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime

Runtime: 110 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Orlando Bloom, Forest Whitaker, Tanya van Graan, Natasha Loring, Roxanne Prentice, Sven Ruygrok, Patrick Lyster, Conrad Kemp, Kelsey Egan, Joelle Kayembe, Richard Lothian, Lise Slabber, Tinarie van Wyk Loots, Khulu Skenjana, Adrian Galley, Inge Beckmann, Dean Slater

Description: Policemen Ali Sokhela (Forest Whitaker) and Brian Epkeen (Orlando Bloom) investigate the brutal murder of a young white woman, apparently provoked by the availability of a new illegal drug and somehow connected to the disappearance of black street children.

Review: Since “Seven” the police genre has gone in a more dark and stylistic direction, story wise. “Zulu” (also known as “City of Violence”) also goes in that direction.

The movie is set in Cape Town, a city tortured by drugs and violence. The biggest part of the South African people live in poverty. The rich, mainly white, elites are living behind big and safe walls in big houses. When the daughter of the local Rugby coach is found dead, those two sides come together. The white girl, that lived prosperous, died of a drug overdose. Detective Ali Sokhela and his partner Brian Epkeen are the ones investigating the case. It leads them to the darkest edges of the criminal town.

The story sounds very promising. And it does execute it well, but not completely. It sometimes falls in those uninspired clichés. Many typical characteristics for the genre. For starters the detective with mental issues or the alcoholic detective who is divorced and neglects his son. The actors do a wonderful job, but it’s not original.

How stereotypical the characters are, at least they have depth and an interesting background. Eventually director Salle has more attention for the characters then the story. It sometimes lacks credibility. The story is pretty dark, but it does stay interesting and shocks at times.

“Zulu” is a pretty good film, with flaws. Still worth your time.

Rating: 3/ 5