Amandla! : : a Revolution in Four Part Harmony

Locations
Call Number: DVD 782.421 Am
On Shelf At: Downtown Library

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 1st Floor 1-week checkout	DVD 782.421 Am	1-week checkout	On Shelf

Originally released as a television motion picture in 2002.
Special features: Q & A with director, producer and Vusi; Vusi at Joe's pub; Director and producer commentary; Dave Matthews interview; Deleted scenes; Sing-a-long; Amandla! production notes; Theatrical trailer; Trailer gallery.
Vusi Mahlasela, Jeremy Cronin, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Sophie Mgcina, Dolly Rathebe, Sifiso Ntuli, Abdullah Ibrahim, Duma Ka Ndlovu.
Tells the story of black South African freedom music and the central role it played against apartheid. Specifically considers the music that sustained and galvanized blacks for more than 40 years. Focuses on the struggle's spiritural dimension named for the Xhosa word for "power". An uplifting story of human courage, resolve and triumph.
DVD; NTSC, region 1; Dolby 5.1 digital surround; Dolby 2.0 digital; widescreen (1.77:1 aspect ratio).

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Important Subject, But Difficult to Follow submitted by Meginator on July 4, 2022, 9:01am This documentary draws attention to the ways in which a unique musical culture helped to inspire and sustain the anti-apartheid movement within South Africa’s Black communities. The subject is inherently powerful, and the film’s best moments come from archival and contemporary footage of groups united in song, particularly when they are placed in historical context via interviews or, less frequently, expository test. Unfortunately, the documentary itself doesn’t have much in the way of narrative through-lines, although it does seem to proceed according to a rough chronology of the apartheid era; as someone generally unfamiliar with the period, I occasionally found the stories difficult to follow and felt like I was lacking a broader understanding. The film’s interviews and compilation of historical and contemporary footage should make it a valuable resource for anyone studying this particular aspect of music history, but it is a bit disjointed and dense for anyone who is newer to the subject.