Yankee Zulu (1993)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Gray Hofmeyr

Writers:

Gray Hofmeyr (writer)
Leon Schuster (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 February 1996 (USA)

Plot:

Two South African boys, one white, one black, go their separate ways. Years later, they meet up again as adults...

Plot Keywords:

Male Nudity | Female To Male Foot In Crotch | Female Stockinged Foot | Footsie Under The Table | Skinny Dipping

Cast

Leon Schuster	...	Rhino
John Matshikiza	...	Zulu
Wilson Dunster	...	Diehard
Terri Treas	...	Rowena
Michelle Bowes	...	Tienkie
Ruan Mandelstam	...	Young Rhino
Bobo Seritsani	...	Young Zulu
Marie Van Deventer	...	Young Rowena
Mbali Dladla	...	Thandi
Julius Van Zyl	...	Mean Boy
Julie Strijdom	...	Ma
Peter Hugo	...	Prince Charles
Tolla Van Der Merwe	...	Uncle Bok
Chris Biko	...	Shadrack
Christine le Brocq	...	Nanny

Also Known As:

There's a Zulu on My Stoep

Runtime:

Brazil:100 min

Country:

South Africa

Language:

English | Afrikaans

Color:

Color

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG

Company:

Lions Gate Films

The gods ARE crazy

When the movie first started with a shot soon after of the butts of 2 friends, a white and black boy running into the water naked I knew it would be an "unusal" movie. And then we see a scene of a fat man taking a shat in the field... and the kids sneaking up with a shovel, relocating it somewhere else. He gets up, looks down and its not there! He looks around stunned, checks his clothes. The kids laugh out loud, he notices them. "Hey you little rascals! I'm gonna murder you, come here!" When I first saw what he was doing as the kids did I thought it was disgusting. But then it was absolutely hilarious! Especially the way its acted out and with the music. He raves his experience to a fat woman. "I stood up, there was nothing! I looked around... nothing! Then I had realized what had happened..." All while the kids watch in continuing laughter and enjoyment from a distance. The fat lady gets mad, steals a bike and chases after them. The black boy whips a piece of something in her face. She hits a rock and falls into the pond. Next scene we see her furiously spanking the kids in the butt with a wipe. Even thats funny! And these are the first few minutes. The whole movie is like that. I knew I was in for a unique ride.

The movie is a collection/collaboration of so many outrageously funny, original, witty, creative, and entertaining scenes, shots, moments, and predicaments (all ingeniously intertwined together) that I can not even begin to tell you about all of them. I will not spoil it. The only thing you must do is see it from beginning to end, all 90 minutes, over and over again. It is overwhelming. But in a good way. A real treat. You will see things you have never seen before. Or could ever imagine. The funniest of things. It will surprise you... pleasantly. This is the comedy/adventure you've been waiting for. The comedy to end all comedies. With a script achieving no less than brilliance. The conversation about the conception that everything black is bad is brilliant. The German "Die Hard" guy was hilarious. All the characters, their interaction, and roll in the plot are amazingly well done. With a grand, grand final. They threw everything in but the sink.

Yankee Zulu... nothing short of a masterpiece. And nothing else like it. After watching it I know now that Leon Schuster is THE funniest and most underrated man in the business. He bares an striking resemblance to Marius Weyers, the star of The Gods Must Be Crazy. The film which he was definitely influenced by. Maybe even out-does it here! Ignore anything they say about it on IMDb. Actually they have some funny reviews denouncing it. Why? I don't know. Funny on another level. It's not like they have much on it anyways on there. It's an upside down market where the good films are not seen, and the bad films are. Well at least not in my case. There is nothing more preposterous and shocking than the poor treatment/attention this film has received. I paid 5 dollars for this, I would have easily paid 100. I hit upon the DVD at the grocery store. I have to admit, I almost didn't buy it. I looked at it and was afraid it might be shat. It was a miracle I ended up walking away with it. Not knowing I was walking away with so much. An instant top fave that will stay close to me till I die. You don't know what you are missing. I am now Yankee Zulu CRAZY. Forever Yankee Zulu.