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Miners Shot Down cover image

Miners Shot Down 2014

Recommended

Distributed by Icarus Films, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by UHURU Productions
Directed by Rehad Desai
DVD , color, 86 min.



Middle School - General Adult
Africa, African National Congress, South Africa, Business, Ethics, Government, Law, Criminal Justice, Labor, Human Rights, Police Violence

Date Entered: 01/06/2016

Reviewed by Malcolm L. Rigsby, Department of Sociology and Human Services, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas

A gripping and stark depiction of a new version of apartheid in South Africa. ~ Malcolm L. Rigsby
It has been said that every democracy is fragile and given free hand each has the potential to become an oligarchy. Miners Shot Down is a stark reminder of how the raw power of every government may, if unregulated and unchallenged, burst into violent models of control. The film is a gripping portrayal of a new version of apartheid in South Africa; this time featuring economic control of government.

Over seven days in August 2012 miners in one of Africa’s largest platinum mines go on strike for better labor benefits. What erupts is violence not by the protesting strikers but by the representatives of the government: the police. The questions begged for discussion are many, but some include who authorized the use of live ammunition against peaceful strikers, what was the influence of capitalism and business interests on the government and the police, and how could a government so young in in seeking democracy use such tactics to quell what itself was born of…, of protest?

The film is not purely unbiased, rather it has a specific objective in bringing about accountability and prosecution of those who were responsible for the killing of the strikers. Hence, most of the storyline is from that of the survivors and injured parties’ points of view. Nonetheless, this film demonstrates high quality and ethical use of interviews and news footage to build its call for deep investigative review of this tragic event in recent African history.

Miners Shot Down offers excellent film shots and sound. It flows and keeps the viewer intrigued about the events surrounding the massacre at the town of Marikana. The film may be employed as part of discussion groups that are exploring criminal justice, sociology, capitalism, economics, politics, and psychology. Icarus provides a detailed Study Guide for your download. The distributor provides a film trailer through Vimeo.

Awards

  • Jury Prize, 2015 Panafrican Film and TV Festival (FESPACO)
  • Justice Award, 2015 Cinema for Peace award for Justice
  • Václav Havel Jury Award, 2014 One World Human Rights Film Festival
  • Camera Justitia Award, 2014 Movies that Matter Human Rights Film Festival
  • Special Choice Award, 2014 Encounters International Documentary Festival
  • Aung San Suu Kyi Award 2014 Myanmar Human Rights Film Festival
  • Best South African Documentary and Amnesty International Human Rights Award, 2014 Dubai International Film Festival
  • Best Reality Documentary Award, 2014 Ugu Film Festival South Africa
  • Audience Award, 2014 African Film Festival Cologne