SummaryThe Bang Bang Club is the true story of four young combat photographers—Greg Marinovich, Joao Silva, Kevin Carter, and Ken Oosterbroek—bonded by friendship and their sense of purpose to tell the truth. In 1994, they risked their lives to tell the world of the brutality and violence associated with the first free elections in post-Apartheid South ... Read More
Directed By:Steven Silver
Written By:Steven Silver, Greg Marinovich, João Silva, Judith Rascoe
The Bang Bang Club
Metascore
Mixed or Average
48
User score
Generally Favorable
6.3
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
48
13% Positive
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
80% Mixed
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Apr 21, 2011
70
Writer-director Steven Silver (with an able assist from cinematographer Miroslaw Baszak) captures this brutal time - which led to the country's first free, multiracial elections in 1994 and the end of apartheid - in vivid, often bold, but never overpowering strokes.
Apr 22, 2011
60
Unfortunately, Silver's movie doesn't cut deep enough: It glosses over some thorny questions and hammers too fixedly on others.
User score
Generally Favorable
6.3
50% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
33% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
17% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Nov 7, 2015
9
This is a movie that is based on the the true story of Greg Marinovich, as apartheid comes to a violent end in South Africa. It depicts encounters and violence faced by four fearless photographers, and sometimes they as we watching them are taken back by the horrific events. I always seem to enjoy the true stories that are put to screen, much more frequently more than others, when they are well done as this one is. It always adds to the movie as this one does at the end when we get to see what the real life individuals looked like, and this one also added real life pictures. Sometimes when we get current events or read magazines such as Time we don't realize the perils that are faced by the real life photographers that bring us the window looking in. I would highly recommend this movie as it is very well done both on screen and by the actors and actresses!
Jan 3, 2012
7
A good film with nice character portrayal despite some ineffective and cringeworthy South African accents. The action however portrays vividly and representatively the dangers involved in being a photographer t that tie in South Africa' bloody past. The streets were awash with brutal tribalism and senseless killing. The press of the time were incredibly brave and often irresponsible in their pursuit of the ultimate photo and associated acclaim. The 4 photographers depicted in the film are all heroes and more importantly, professionals of their art.
Apr 25, 2011
50
A slideshow of actual photographs by the Bang Bang Club during the end credits packs more emotional punch than anything that precedes them, displaying in their still frames the singular focus that the movie lacks.
Apr 21, 2011
50
This question, which will instinctively occur to many viewers, is never quite dealt with in the film. The photographers sometimes drive into the middle of violent situations, hold up a camera, and say "press!" - as if that will solve everything.
Apr 21, 2011
50
Writer-director Silver, who trained in documentaries, appears flummoxed by the challenges of getting the audience inside the heads of these young men.
Apr 19, 2011
40
A single arresting shot of a photographer chasing a man on fire says more about journalistic ethics and the queasy power of the image than all of the speechifying and star-posing combined; if only the rest of this muddled movie had as much insightful Sontagian bang.
Apr 22, 2011
38
Seldom does The Bang Bang Club show much interest in the big picture of South Africa. When moral issues do come to the forefront, the big worry seems to be not questionable behavior but bad publicity.
Production Company:
- Foundry Films
- Instinctive Film
- Out of Africa Entertainment
- The Harold Greenberg Fund
Release Date:Apr 22, 2011
Duration:1 h 46 m
Rating:R
Tagline:Sometimes you get too close
Website:
Awards
Genie Awards
• 7 Nominations
South African Film and Television Awards
• 5 Nominations
Torino Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
