South Africa is a location that deserves to be recognized as one of the world’s best locations in filmmaking. Here is a list of five movies to showcase what South Africa can offer in addition to some of the world’s best casino sites. Starting on a high note, Invictus is a warm example of how sport can bring people together.

Invictus

In 1995, the globe watched as the Springboks won the 1995 Rugby World Cup on home soil. The victory was all the more poignant, coming after the dismantling of Apartheid and racial segregation. And what makes the achievement more memorable is how the Springboks had only recently been brought together in the lead-up to the tournament.

English journalist John Carlin wrote a book about South Africa’s triumph and the manuscript was used by writer Anthony Peckham to draft a screenplay entitled Invictus. Ultimately, Clint Eastwood would read the screenplay before deciding to write and direct the movie, which would attract Morgan Freeman to star as President Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon to play Springboks captain François Pienaar.

Released in December 2009, Invictus was filmed on location in Cape Town and was only completed in May of that year. After grossing more than $122 million in international markets, the movie also secured Academy Award nominations for Freeman and Damon as Best Actor and Best Supporting, respectively.

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Tsotsi

In August 2005, Tsotsi debuted at the Edinburgh Film Festival, having been adapted by South African writer and director Gavin Hood. Avid readers might recognize the novel of Tsotsi, which was penned by South African novelist Athol Fugard. As for protagonist David (later Tsotsi), the responsibility for bringing the character to life was entrusted to actor Presley Chweneyagae, who’s also known for appearing in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

What’s striking about Tsotsi is how viewers are shown the violent realities of people fighting to survive in the Johannesburg slums. Fugard wrote it in the 1960s as his only novel but it wasn’t published until the 1980s. The film highlights the lack of opportunities that were available for black South Africans living in the immediate post-Apartheid era and how the threat of HIV and Aids was also rising.

Hood’s adaptation of Tsotsi was a striking success and received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. At the Oscars, however, Tsotsi went a step further by triumphing to win the 2005 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Although grossing just $11.54 million in a limited North American release, Tsotsi received strong reviews from critics like Roger Ebert, who gave the film a perfect score of four stars out of four.

Cry, the Beloved Country

Cry, the Beloved Country was first published in 1948 by novelist Alan Paton. There was an early cinematic adaption released in 1951, with a second emerging in 1995. The plot follows a rural church minister whose presence is requested in Johannesburg, where he finds his son, Absalom, detained and under arrest for the murder of a white man

The second adaptation was filmed on location by director Darrell Roodt, who worked from a screenplay that was written by Ronald Harwood and Joshua Sinclair. Debuting in December 1995, Cry, the Beloved Country starred James Earl Jones as the church minister and Richard Harris as the father of the murdered son.

Cry, the Beloved Country utilises authentic footage from the country and is a fascinating watch, with acting heavyweights Jones and Harris coming face to face to discuss the sensitive subject of their sons. Expectations are subverted in this tale of 1940s South Africa.

A Dry White Season

The novel, A Dry White Season, was written by novelist André Brink and published in 1979. A decade later, a cinematic version was released in September 1989. Director Euzhan Palcy co-wrote the script with screenwriter Colin Welland, who is best known for winning the 1982 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Chariots of Fire.

When casting A Dry White Season, Palcy attracted an array of talented actors who are widely acclaimed in Hollywood. Arguably, the most famous to actor appear in the film is Marlon Brando as Ian McKenzie, with the other standout cast members including Donald Sutherland, Janet Suzman, Susannah Harker, Susan Sarandon, and Jürgen Prochnow.

Set in 1976, A Dry White Season takes place during Apartheid and begins with Donald Sutherland portraying teacher Ben, who works at a school for only white children. After witnessing the son of his black Gardner being savagely assaulted by white policemen, Ben is himself embroiled in trouble for attempting to help the boy. The movie then follows the harrowing fallout.

District 9

Having explored a few weightier issues thus far, it’s time for a fun selection in the form of District 9 from Johannesburg director Neill Blomkamp. Blomkamp is also responsible for writing this sci-fi thriller that centres on an extraterrestrial race that came to Johannesburg in 1982, leaving their spaceship above the city as millions of malnourished aliens are freed from living inside.

District 9 made Blomkamp a famous director and it also catapulted Johannesburg actor Sharlto Copley into stardom as protagonist Wikus Van De Merwe, who works as a contractor whose job is to investigate the aliens within their slum encampment. Although written to highlight how xenophobia and racism aren’t right, District 9 is also an amusing movie with lots of heart.

With District 9, it’s intelligent to see that director Blomkamp has written the movie to place the aliens in slum-like conditions and depict them as suffering. It’s a sharp reminder that people are still living in such conditions across South Africa – not just Johannesburg. Sometimes, an issue can be reframed in a way that can be impactful for an audience. In this case, the audience sees that the poor of Johannesburg require support.

Since District 9, Blomkamp has continued to focus on the sci-fi genre, having released Elysium and Chappie, which was also shot in Johannesburg. Meanwhile, Blomkamp has also maintained his interest in aliens by shooting several short films for fans to enjoy.