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Banned
Banned
South Africa | 2024 | 80 min | Documentary
Director: Naledi Bogacwi
Screenplay: Naledi Bogacwi
Cinematography: Xolani Mkhabela
Cast: Gcina Mhlophe, Abigail Kubeka, Sol Rachilo, Mbongeni Ngema
Synopsis
The documentary follows the story of the iconic film Joe Bullet (1973, starring Ken Gampu ,Sol Rachilo and Abigail Kubeka). Joe Bullet was produced in 1971 and was the first film to feature an all-black African cast. In 1973 the film was released independently in the Eyethu Cinema in Soweto. Shortly thereafter the film was banned by the apartheid government, it was never screened again. This documentary features the original surviving cast Abigail Kuheka and Sol Rachilo along with producer Tony Van Der Merwe. In Banned the voices of Dr Gcina Mhlophe, Dr Mbongeni Ngema, Dr Kgotso Nkhatho and banned filmmaker Kevin Harris narrate the atrocities of censorship in the peak of apartheid South Africa.
About the director
Award winning producer and co-founder of the esteemed independent film house, Trial By Media Films, Naledi Bogacwi is a visionary talent with a master's degree in film and television. Her journey into the cinematic realm began with the dazzling debut of her first feature film, Letters of Hope, which premiered in competition at the illustrious 40th Durban International Film Festival. Notably, the film clinched the prestigious award for Artistic Bravery, marking Naledi's indelible imprint on the industry. Naledi’s follow-up feature, Surviving Gaza garnered an astounding 14 nominations at the Africa Academy Awards, a testament to its profound impact on viewers and critics alike. Among its accolades, the film secured three prestigious awards, including the coveted title of Best Director. With a trail of accolades behind her, Naledi now steps into the director's chair for her much-anticipated debut feature, Banned.