CFE Film Series: Mapantsula

Mapantsula is a 1988 South African crime film directed by Oliver Schmitz and written by Schmitz and Thomas Mogotlane. It tells the story of Johannes 'Panic' Themba Mzolo, a small-time thief, set against the backdrop of Apartheid. The film's use of flashbacks between Panic's time at the hands of his apartheid jailor 'Stander' and happenings in the Johannesburg township of Soweto display the injustices black South Africans suffered during apartheid and their struggle for suffrage.

"I have seen a number of movies that deal with apartheid but none comes close to Mapantsula… this is the best movie to have ever come out of South Africa to date”

-- Art Hurt

“ingeniously made under the noses of the South African apartheid censors”

--Sam Diener

“Because of the political content, 'Mapantsula' … caused a lot of controversy in [1980’s] South Africa.”

-- Lodi Meijer, CineMagazine

Introduction by Anver Saloojee,  Assistant VP – International, Ryerson University

Co-sponsored with the Documentary Media Research Centre at Ryerson University

Please contact cfe@ryerson.ca if you require accommodation to ensure inclusion in this event.