5 Classic South African Movies to Watch Today on Heritage Day

Heritage Day, observed on 24 September, is the perfect time to celebrate the country’s diverse cultural heritage and history. Film is one way to revisit important moments that shaped the country. Here are 5 classic films worth watching on this occasion. 

Sarafina

Photo: Rotten Images

Sarafina tells the story of a student in Soweto involved in 1976 student protests. Leleti Khumalo played Sarafina. Whoopi Goldberg, John Kani and Miriam Makeba were in the film. It was adapted from Mbongeni Ngema’s stage production and premiered at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival. 

Tsotsi

Photo: Rotten Tomatoes

Gavin Hood’s Tsotsi came out in 2005 and is set in Johannesburg. The film follows a gangster who takes a baby after discovering him in a car he has hijacked. Presley Chweneyagae starred as Tsotsi. He won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. 

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Yesterday

Photo: Rotten Tomatoes

Leleti Khumalo starred as Yesterday in the film. It tells the story of a young woman who cares for her daughter after being diagnosed with HIV. Darrell James Roodt directed this movie. 

District 9

Photo: Rotten Images

Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 is a 2009 science-fiction film. The film follows Sharlto Copley’s character, Wikus van de Merwe, a government official tasked with overseeing the relocation of aliens living in Johannesburg. The film got Oscar nominations in four categories. They are Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing and Visual Effects.

Invictus

Photo: Rotten Tomatoes

Invictus was directed by Clint Eastwood in 2009. This story is about Nelson Mandela’s presidency and the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Morgan Freeman played Nelson Mandela, while Matt Damon played Springboks. It was based on John Carlin’s book Playing the Enemy and was filmed in Johannesburg and Cape Town.