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From: al@mot.UUCP (Al Filipski)
Newsgroups: net.movies,net.nlang.africa
Subject: Re: Two films on the !Kung
Message-ID: <317@mot.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 26-Sep-85 20:24:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: mot.317
Posted: Thu Sep 26 20:24:09 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 26-Sep-85 21:26:45 EDT
References: <539@im4u.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Motorola Microsystems, Tempe, AZ  85282
Lines: 35
Xref: utcs net.movies:7295 net.nlang.africa:137

> 
> Some of you may recall my previous negative comments on "The Gods Must Be
> Crazy."  Although I detested the movie, my judgement was just an aesthetic
> one: I thought it was an especially bad grade grade of slapstick.  Now I've
> discovered that there are other reasons to criticize the movie as well.
> 
> According to a review in the August-September 1985 issue of "Sojourners,"
> the fanciful depiction of the !Kung in "The Gods Must Be Crazy" is not
> merely feeble-minded, it is highly offensive given the actual living
> conditions of the !Kung, whose territory in Namibia is under illegal
> occupation and control by South Africa.
> 
>			.	.	.
>				etc.
>			.	.	.

Well, I thought the movie was delightful. The !Kung culture was treated
with respect and sensitivity.  It's too bad that the people are having
bad times, but I see nothing offensive about the possible anachronism
of portraying them as they might have been before encountering "civilization."
Must even slapstick comedy be politicized?

As far as aesthetics goes, I have seen "good" slapstick (Charlie Chaplin) and
"bad" slapstick (Jerry Lewis) and I'd call that in "The Gods" "good".
Most of the situations are imaginatively set up and nicely timed.

Amongst all the junk at the theaters, its a gem, in my opinion. If
it leads one to try to find out more about the !Kung, all the
better, but it can be enjoyed for itself.

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Alan Filipski, UNIX group, Motorola Microsystems, Tempe, AZ U.S.A
{seismo|ihnp4}!ut-sally!oakhill!mot!al  |   ucbvax!arizona!asuvax!mot!al
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"Life is a comedy for those who think, a tragedy for those who feel" --LaBruyere


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