1 / 8
ERA
Did you know
38 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Mapantsula
1988 1h 44m ZU
👍
7.0
SOLID
★7.0TMDB · 8
CrimeDrama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
A petty gangster inevitably becomes involved in the growing anti-apartheid struggle and is forced to choose between individual gain and a united stand against the system.
“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”
Cast
Thomas Mogotlane
Panic
Marcel Van Heerden
Stander
Thembi Mtshali
Pat
Dolly Rathebe
Ma Mobise
Peter Sephuma
Duma
Darlington Michaels
Dingaan
Eugene Majola
Sam
Gabriel Dichwabe
Crowd leader
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Oliver Schmitz
- Writers
- Oliver Schmitz, Thomas Mogotlane
- Languages
- Afrikaans, English, Sotho, Zulu
- Countries
- South Africa, United Kingdom
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Afrikaans, English, Sotho, Zulu.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 2 countries: South Africa, United Kingdom.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Oliver Schmitz, shot by Rod Stewart. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by The Ouens. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Mark Baard shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Thomas Mogotlane and Marcel Van Heerden and Thembi Mtshali carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0095587 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Oliver Schmitz directs. Rod Stewart behind the camera. The Ouens scores. Mark Baard cuts. Produced in South Africa, United Kingdom. Dialogue in Afrikaans, English, Sotho, Zulu.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 138 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 2Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Afrikaans, English, Sotho, Zulu.
- 3International production across 2 countries: South Africa, United Kingdom.
- 4Directed by Oliver Schmitz, shot by Rod Stewart. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by The Ouens. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Mark Baard shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Thomas Mogotlane and Marcel Van Heerden and Thembi Mtshali carry the top of the cast.
- 8IMDB entry: tt0095587 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 9Only 8 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Rod Stewart
- Original score
- The Ouens
- Editing
- Mark Baard
- Runtime
- 104 min · 1h 44m
- Status
- Released
- Box office
- $5,525
- Original language
- ZU
Also by
Oliver Schmitz
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
- DA
David Hannay Productions
AU
- HA
Haverbeam
GB
- ON
One Look Productions
ZA
Key crew
- ProducerOliver Schmitz
- Executive ProducerDavid Hannay
- MusicThe Ouens
- ProducerMax Montocchio
- Executive ProducerKeith Rosenbaum
- EditorMark Baard
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- gangster
- south africa
- apartheid
- organized crime
- sexploitation
- anti-apartheid
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1988-05-21
