RELEASE DATE: 27th February 2015
RATING: 13 LV
RUNNING TIME: 102 Minutes
GENRE: Dance
STARRING:  Anele Vilana, Bongani Skosana, Bontle Modiselle, Lilian Dube, Loyanda Mfene, Mbuso Kgarebe, Mindo Sefafe, Nyaniso Dzedze, S\’Thandiwe Kgoroge, Tumelo Seleke, Wandile Molebatsi
DIRECTOR: Scottnes L. Smith
WRITERS: Damien Chazelle
PRODUCERS: Fidel Namisi
PRODUCTION BUDGET: N/A
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.hearmemovefilm.com/

FIRST THOUGHTS

This is not another bad, and morbidly disappointing Mzansi film you can overlook, in fact quite the contrary applies here. If you don’t go and see the film, you really will be missing out! Yes Mzansi, there is hope!!!

WHY WATCH IT?

The first 15 minutes of the film is a little blah, but smack into the middle of the film, like any other well executed and entertaining film (usually American), you forget that you are even in the movie theatre. Everything is surprisingly coherent, from the plot to the acting, to the cinematography, to the set, to the dancing-Oh the dancing!! I won’t even get started on that yet.

The film is a story about a young boy Muzi, played by Nyaniso Dzedze who goes on a quest to find out the truth about his father and his tragic death 12 years prior. When he joins forces with his father’s dance partner, he finds himself embroiled in a bitter rivalry that pushes him to his limit. The film proudly leaves no moments for character questioning or unbelievable (and I mean this in the bad sense) character motives or objectives.  The film finds a rare and welcomed balance between a plausible storyline and captivating dancing. Unlike most dance films you will not leave the theatre having experienced a case of dance exhaustion! it transgresses the normal 80% senseless but beautiful dancing rule that most dance films seem to adhere to. Sadly, or luckily for us (since we mean business) this is something that American dance films still struggle with today. Step-Up, You Got Served….for what? For who?

While the film’s plot is mainly about Muzi and his quest for the truth about his father, there are many sub plots including romance, that provide some twists and turns between them. The plot takes you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions of sympathy, sadness and a splinter of sorrow; and I for one never thought ANY dance film could get any sort of empathy out of me.

Well the film is about dancing, so what of it?, Hear Me Move displays a typical dance flick plot, where the hero and leader of the group dance against their rival group and other groups as well. Within the context of South Africa the films displays South African dance forms such as “sbujwa” and “spantsula” to African tribal dances and even features urban dance forms such as “crumping” and contemporary dancing-done with African flair, and not forgetting the backflips (since there’s got to be something the masses can’t do!). I must say these were ALL beyond impressive and well implemented. The sight of these sexy bodies, dancing against one another, twisting and turning, flexing their muscles and all of that African action left me……speechless!

Like ALL dance films you can expect to see unbelievably (in the good sense) hot and fit bodies, dancing together-all in one room, remember Channing Tatum, Patrick Swayze or John Travolta?! These dance scenes had me swooning between the villain and the hero, both physically anointed with tight abs, six packs, fit legs and extremely handsome faces. One can expect a lot of dance scenes where the boys have no shirts on, just to show off their strong torsos, after all, it is a dance film and we do need some eye candy. Although if it were up to me the villain Prince would take the cup. He is surprisingly much more likeable, with a fuse of character between a modern day “isikotane” type (he even dresses like them) character and a modern day Chester (from Yizo Yizo)- he brought it on! And for the gentlemen out there not to worry Khanyi who is one of the dance crew female members and Muzi’s love interest, played by newcomer Bontle Modiselle provides some serious eye candy. She is as bootylicious, fit (o pakile, in the South African sense) beautiful, hot and also exhibits some good dancing skills.

One thing you might find distasteful about the film is that Trevor Gumbi and Lillian Dube seemed to be featured extras. Lillian Dube says nothing throughout the entire film, but one line. Seriously?! Our South African gogos are normally very opinionated and strong! Why was she there to begin with? It was rather; awkward to say the least! And as for Trevor Gumbi, he didn’t even have a line, just awkward! Maybe its part of the grand marketing scheme to pull in prestige and audience, who knows.

LAST WORDS

Needless to say after watching the film I walked out of the theatre feeling like ‘I’ had conquered something (yes it is that good), like a little child in a candy store who has just purchased ALL the sweets-very HAPPY and satisfied!

This is a film you can watch with your gogo, your aunt, your next door neighbour, hell anybody South African. I am already eagerly awaiting a sequel, because by South African standards, it is that good. It is something we can show to the  world and proudly compete on an international level with.

I say in preparation for that, Abashwe!

RATING

9/10

REVIEW BY:

Petunia Modisapodi