Silk (1986) / Dune Warriors (1990)

Silk (1986) – Cec Verrell is Jenny Sleighton aka Silk, the smoothest cop in Honolulu,  she shoots, climbs, kills and loves. Unfortunately not so much stuff typical to a female characater.

‘ When the heat’s on no one’s smoother than ….’

The theme song is a typical ‘CH Santiago’ soundtrack ‘smash hit’

Dune Warriors (1990) – a Mad Max 2  like post apocalyptic dessert adventure. Swords meet motorcycles and machine guns (the opening scene says it all), felt a bit like ‘7 samurai’ ; and David Carradine is in it.

Lets not forget Rick Hill, who was in ‘The Devastator’.

The Devastator (1986)

Plenty of shooting, and tons of never-ending synth music (nicely restored for the bluray version) in the background.

more details  here

Sameblod (2016), Avanti Poppolo (1986), Pokot (2017) – 67. Berlinale WIP

Sameblod (2016)

Avanti Poppolo (1986)

Pokot (2017)  – the worst of the day

65th Berlinale: Ned Rifle (2014), Joe Bullet (1971) and Umbango (1988) firecrackers

Ned Rifle (2014), music,directed, written by Hal Hartley:

It is hard to find out at the beginning, if the film is a comedy with dramatic elements or a drama with few funny scenes. One you can be sure of: it is funny for at least half of it’s length (depending on your sense of humor of course).  The dialogs / monologues are really well constructed, you actually want to listen to them despite their horrific length. James Urbaniak is hilarious, did he really took comedy classes from Llloyd Kaufamann ? Let’s hope not.   In general I can say that “facing his inner clown” went very well for Hal Hartley. Eloquently funny.

 

Joe Bullet (1971/1973) written & produced by Tonie van der Merwe, directed and photographed by Louis de Witt:

Forget about Shaft, Black Belt Jones and Dolemite, Joe bullet is the new hero and will end the corruption in the football / soccer World. This film tops many of the Blaxploitation films I’ve seen. Action, suspense, gadgets, romance, sports – What else can you want from a movie ? A great music theme? It has it too!

Who is Tony van der Merwe?

What is Gravel Road Entertainment Group ?

Joe Bullet Trailer

Joe Bullet page

imdb.com says:

One of the first South African films featuring an all-African cast, and starred Ken Gampu, one of the first black South African actors to appear in Hollywood films. Independently released in 1972 in the Eyethu cinema in Soweto, and after only two screenings, the film was banned by the then Apartheid government. The film was later unbanned after special appeal and a personal screening to the Minister of Communications. The film was, however, never released again and simply disappeared. Now, after more than 40 years, the film has been digitally restored and finally available for world-wide release.

 

Umbango (1988/1986) directed and photographed by Tonie van der Merwe:

Second of the Gravel Road films shown at the festival, a western with only one caucasian actor (that dies in the first 1/3 of the film). Was entertaining, but had also it’s bad moments.

Umbango trailer 

Gravel Road page.