WORRIED ‘BOUT AFRICA

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South Africa is one dangerous place to live, with vicious criminals lurking around every corner.

”Gangster’s paradise: Jerusalema” is the story of the crime lord that rose from the slime of black ghettos outside Johannesburg, only to become one of the most influential characters in the city. Aside from depicting the brutal and merciless world of slums, movie sheds a light on the political and racial corruption in the country it comes from.

However, the outcome of the script and the acting itself tend to deviate into incredulity which gives the entire flick a lower rating than expected at the beginning .

”Gangster’s paradise: Jerusalema” is a brutal display of modern South Africa, but nothing more than that.

GANGSTER'S PARADISE: JERUSALEMA - 5/10

YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW

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AIDS was a significant subject in cinematography ever since the wicked disease went public in the late 1980’s. Over the decades, it has also given the much needed and deserved recognition for some great (Tom Hanks) and some not so great film workers (Matthew McCounaghey).

South African ''Yesterday'' wasn’t that lucky, reaching only as far as foreign-language movie nom at ”Oscars” in 2004. This is truly a shame, because it is a great real-life drama and a harsh presentation of Zulu province, one of the most AIDS ravished areas in the world.

The story revolves around the young HIV-positive mother Yesterday (Leleti Khumalo) and her fight against the poverty, lack of medical, family and support from her local community. That fight is hard and dangerous, but Leleti manages to give us the hope that there is tomorrow after the yesterday and today.

”Yesterday” is a great and heart-moving drama with some astounding photography from Kwa-Zulu Natal province.

YESTERDAY – 7/10