Ralph Ziman’s directs hisSouth African Robin Hood movie “Jerusalema”

Move over  big budget action films costing $ 100-$200million and take a look at Jerusalema, a film that cost $2million with unknown actors, Studio heads should check out director/writer Ralph Ziman’s film ,which is a wakeup callof how much a really  great actionfilm can give you a big bang for your buck .The story  revolves these young wannabe gangsters, Lucky Kunene ( younger Jafta Mamabolo , older  Rapulana Seiphemo as an adult) and Zakes(younger Motlatsi Mahloko, older Ronnie Nyakale).  And who are caught up in a life ofcrime because it the only way that they can survive in a country where povertyis just a way of life. In a way they reminded me of Mickey Rourke and Eric Robertsin the film, “The Pope of Greenwich Village”. Jerusalema is based on a realstory in which director; Ziman took many liberties with his script and even broughtin a love affair with Lucky and Leah Freidlander (Shelley Meskin Leah) a Jewishgirl. The entire film was shot in Hillbrow which is a very dangerous area tobegin with and makes South Central Los Angeles look like Disneyland in comparison. Crime is an every day occurrence and the film crews werealso victims but no shots were fired. “Just give me your money and I will notshoot you”, they were told. The director, along with DP, Nicolas Hofmeyer,used a guerilla style of filmmaking and did ride-alongs with the police andcaught some real life dramas in doing so.  Ziman who has also has a very successful musicvideo career lays in a thunderous music score along with composer Alan AriLazar. Our lead Lucky, as a young man, really wants to go to University butlack of funds (obviously no student loan programs in South Africa) has forced him in this life of a gangster. After abig shootout early in the film Lucky and Zakes leave their village and settlein the big city and try to make an honest living with a taxi service but as AlPacino (as Michael Coreolone )said in the film Godfather 3 ,“I tried to get outbut the pulled me back in”. So, Lucky creates a non-profit housing business torestore the run down buildings where they all live and clean up the drugs andprostitution and succeeds until both the police and a major drug dealer from Nigeria, Tony Ngu (Malusi Skenjana). Drive him to be Public Enemy number 1...Will Luckyever reach the promised land, I think Ralph Ziman has.

Anchor Bayis releasing this film

Camera (color,widescreen), Nicolas Hofmeyer; editor, David Helfand; music, Alan Ari Lazar;art director, Flo Ballack; costume designer, Natalie Lundon. Running time: 118MIN.