Zulu
Today films tend to be made with an understanding of the world - that is that they tend not to be jingoistic - think about the great war fims of the 1940s and 50s or the westerns of times past - how the cowboys were always the “goodies”and those evil redskins were just out to scalp them. Well, thankfully, things have changed and although history is written by the victors the film industry has been able to be a little more level headed and tends to show things how they really are/were.
The first film that I saw that demonstrated this more level headed attitude of the film maker was “Zulu"(1964) Cy Endfield, Director, starring Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins and Michael Caine. I revisit this film regularly and each time I learn a little - tolerance of others’beliefs and feelings being foremost! Here we see that, if anything, the imperialist British are, just maybe, in the wrong - what were we doing in South Africa in the first place!? However we also learn of the bravery of those men, who, faced by ovewhelming odds at Rorke’s Drift, managed to defend thier position and lived to tell the tale. In all 11 Victoria Crosses (Great Britain’s haighest award for gallantry/bravery) were awarded to the men of Rork’s Drift, which is the most that has ever been awarded for a single wartime action.
However we also learn of the humanity of the Zulus, who eventually left the scene and saluted the remaining british soldiers, when they still had far superior numbers and clearly would have been successful in thier endeavours had they continued.
During the film we not only witness the organisation of the british soldiers but also the character of the men involved - the upper class officer, the “workingclass”men and though we may not agree with the politics of the situation we cannot fail to be impressed by the actions of these individuals. We can say that of the Zulus too, many of whom were sacrificed by thier chiefs in order to count the british guns.
The whole film is compelling and one of the classics.
Right before I go, you all know that I have been following the Enigin Scam, and I have to say it finally seems as if people are coming to their senses and realizing that saving the environment is not a bad thing. Who would have thought…