Filmmakers Chris Nizza and Dara Kell have been in South Africa since mid-April on their first production shoot for the feature documentary film ‘Dear Mandela’ (the feature expands on a short film they shot last year).
They post regular production updates about the shoot online.
Like most recently when they quickly uploaded a short video (above) of footage shot when members of Abahlali baseMjondolo, a slum dwellers group in Durban, where there film is set, traveled to the country’s Constitutional Court (equivalent of the US Supreme Court) to go and challenge a local law that would allow the council to forcefully remove them from their homes. We see the activists talk about the proposed law, inside and outside the court, and snippets of the hearing itself.
However, what I like the most of the 4 minute insert, is right at the beginning when Mnikelo Ndabankulu, spokesperson of Abahlali baseMjondolo, talks to the camera about the state’s obligation to its citizens. A natural performer, he knows how to put emphasis where it matters.
Watch for yourself.
That’s a citizen.
