The Bang Bang Club

"Sometimes you get too close"

2011 1h 46m EN

👍

6.6

SOLID

★6.6TMDB · 186

DramaHistory

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In the early to mid '90s, when the South African system of apartheid was in its death throes, four photographers - Greg Marinovich, Kevin Carter, Ken Oosterbroek and João Silva - bonded by their friendship and a sense of purpose, worked together to chronicle the violence and upheaval leading up to the 1994 election of Nelson Mandela as president. Their work is risky and dangerous, potentially fatally so, as they thrust themselves into the middle of chaotic clashes between forces backed by the government (including Inkatha Zulu warriors) and those in support of Mandela's African National Congress.

“Sometimes you get too close”

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Cast

Malin Akerman
Robin Comley
Ryan Phillippe
Greg Marinovich
Taylor Kitsch
Kevin Carter
Frank Rautenbach
Ken Oosterbroek
Neels Van Jaarsveld
Joao Silva
Russel Savadier
Ronald Graham
Ashley Friedlander
Roxy
Patrick Lyster
James Nachtwey

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Steven Silver
Writers: Steven Silver
Languages: Xhosa, English, Afrikaans, Zulu
Countries: Canada, South Africa

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 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 15 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Xhosa, English, Afrikaans, Zulu.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Canada, South Africa.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Steven Silver, shot by Mirosław Baszak. 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 Philip Miller. 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 Tad Seaborn 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

Malin Akerman and Ryan Phillippe and Taylor Kitsch carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Sometimes you get too close".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Steven Silver directs. Mirosław Baszak behind the camera. Philip Miller scores. Tad Seaborn cuts. Produced in Canada, South Africa. Dialogue in Xhosa, English, Afrikaans, Zulu.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 15 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Xhosa, English, Afrikaans, Zulu.
3International production across 2 countries: Canada, South Africa.
4Directed by Steven Silver, shot by Mirosław Baszak. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Philip Miller. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Tad Seaborn shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Malin Akerman and Ryan Phillippe and Taylor Kitsch carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Sometimes you get too close".
9IMDB entry: tt1173687 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.