Call Me Thief
by Sherif Awad
This long film was the official nomination of South Africa
for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' of the 89th Academy Awards (The Oscars) of
2017. Noem My Skollie or Call Me Thief (2016) depends on the
biography of John W. Fredericks, who recounts stories to his companions when
growing up, and furthermore to kindred cell mates when he was in jail. He was
utilizing those stories as an escape and a way out of an existence of
wrongdoing.
The film is an obvious take a gander at the choices and
decisions confronting youth on the Cape Flats. Joining a posse is very nearly a
need with a specific end goal to survive, regardless of whether outside of or
inside jail. It gives assurance, and a feeling of having a place, yet there are
the individuals who have possessed the capacity to escape this call, and remain
sufficiently clear of inconvenience to have a cheerful existence.
The film pulls no punches, yet at the same time figures out
how to abstain from going for shoddy stun esteem, picking truth and
dramatization. While legislative issues are available, it likewise does not
dominate the story. What's more, an exceptionally immersing story it is,
absolutely attracting the watchers, and holding them until the very end. A
straight forward plot, however one that is top notch, engaging, and educational
as it tells its story of survival, and selling out, an account of steadfastness.
The film opens on four youngsters, AB and his three closest
companions Gimba, Gif and Shorty who experience childhood with the devastated
ganglands of Cape Flats in the 1960s. Regardless of their conditions, the kids
attempt to dodge the hoodlums who penetrate their day by day lives. However
when AB experiences an awful affair they choose to frame a pack to ensure
themselves. The four companions, now like siblings, don't perpetrate genuine
violations, yet the police keep a nearby watch on them as they develop from
adolescents into mainstream young fellows. In the end the more seasoned AB and
Gimba are captured while breaking into a shop and condemned to two years in
prison. It is here, in the horrible universe of jail, that AB chooses to
utilize his narrating ability to engage the solidified detainees and raise his
status while his companion, Gimba connects with on an altogether different way
to guarantee his own security… When AB is discharged from jail he gets on the
association with his lovely youth sweetheart, Jenny thus tries to center around
composing his stories, yet his group companions induce him to go along with
them one final time, a choice that prompts stunning outcomes for every one of
them.
Once more, this is a genuine story in view of the life of
John W. Fredericks, the film's scriptwriter, which makes it a considerably more
wonderful film.. Dann-Jacques and the other three fundamental characters were
unbelievable. A great deal of crude feeling is required for a part this way.
It's a part that tests your capacity as an on-screen character and every one of
the four sparkles all through the film, that likewise an extraordinary sign of
exactly how much the neighborhood film industry has become in the course of
recent years. So much time and exertion were spent on outfits, the set and so
on and everything meets up impeccably on screen. This is extraordinary compared
to other nearby movies I have found in quite a while and I emphatically feel
that each South African ought to go and see it.
Profiting extraordinarily from a convincing performance from
Dann-Jaques Mouton who plays
Newman's, and gives a carefree minute, raising the
consistent tone of fear and increased feeling of looming danger that prowls out
of sight. Oscar Peterson is particularly chilling as a dreadful dump
supervisor, while, David Manuel, makes for a threatening posse manager as Gums.
Taking its signal from the written work and genuine
experience of John W Fredericks, the content traverses quite a while, is packed
brimming with activity and the Afrikaans exchange. Kyle Shepherd's, thoughtful
score emphasizes the story.
