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TENGERS

With voices by Michael J. Rix, Jo Day, Rob Vega, Anton Schmidt, Phillip Mathebula

Written & Directed by Michael J. Rix

Modern-day audiences expect all movies to be of big Hollywood standards. It costs a small country's annual budget to make some of them, so when a DIY flick like Tengers comes along, I can expect many to shoot it down as being worse than just rough around the edges. However, when considering the budget factor and that it was entirely conceived, directed, shot and animated by one man, you tend to look at it a bit differently.
This adult-slanted stop-animation movie's gritty and flawed technique is a far cry from The Nightmare Before Christmas, but seems appropriate when considering its subject matter of a man trying to find his place in a crime ridden post-Apartheid South Africa - Gauteng to be exact. His interaction with friends, beggars, criminals and the girl he fancies take a turn when he's set for life after buying a lucky scratch card...
A nice touch is the explanation of local terms like “braai” and “lekker” for foreign viewers.
Coraline this sure isn't, but a good start nonetheless to reach towards a South African movie industry that covers all genres and styles, but most importantly, to eventually create an archive that is comparable to the big players around the globe.

Extra features include a commentary track by director Rix, his 24hr Cannes Film Challenge award-winning short “Scooped Up”, and a 5-minute tongue in cheek Making-Of.
(Proceeds from the sales of this DVD is said to go towards victims of violent crime)

3 / C
- Paul Blom


1 2 3 4 5 6
A - B - C

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A: Multiple Viewing Potential
B: Deserves Another Look
C: Once Should Suffice

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