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Drum is a 2004 film based on the life of South African investigative journalist Henry Nxumalo, who worked for Drum magazine, called "the first black lifestyle magazine in Africa". It was director Zola Maseko's first film and deals with the issues of apartheid and the forced removal of residents from Sophiatown. The film was originally to be a six-part television series called Sophiatown Short Stories, but Maseko could not get the funding. The lead roles of Henry Nxumalo and Drum main photographer Jürgen Schadeberg were played by American actors Taye Diggs and Gabriel Mann, while most of the rest of the cast were South African actors.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2004, and did the rounds of international film festivals before going on general release in South Africa in July 2006. It was released in Europe, but failed to get a distributor for the USA where it went straight to DVD.
The film was generally well received critically. Most of the negative reviews were based on the quality of Maseko's directing and Jason Filardi's screenwriting. It was awarded Best South African Film at the Durban International Film Festival, and director Maseko gained the top prize at the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO).
Original Release
10/30/2004
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Taye Diggs | Henry Nxumalo |
Gabriel Mann | Jurgen Schadeberg / Jürgen Schadeberg |
Tumisho Masha | Can Themba |
Moshidi Motshegwa | Florence Nxumalo |
Jason Flemyng | Jim Bailey |
Zola | Slim (Alpheus) |
Fezile Mpela | Todd Matshikiza |
Greg Melvill-Smith | Major Att Spengler |
Lindani Nkosi | Nelson Mandela |
Keketso Semoko | Fatsy |
Directors
Writers
Zola Maseko, Jason Filardi, Timothy Grimes
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Taye Diggs | Henry Nxumalo |
Gabriel Mann | Jurgen Schadeberg / Jürgen Schadeberg |
Tumisho Masha | Can Themba |
Moshidi Motshegwa | Florence Nxumalo |
Jason Flemyng | Jim Bailey |
Zola | Slim (Alpheus) |
Fezile Mpela | Todd Matshikiza |
Greg Melvill-Smith | Major Att Spengler |
Lindani Nkosi | Nelson Mandela |
Keketso Semoko | Fatsy |
Tessa Jubber | Carol Shand |
Bonnie Mbuli | Dara Macala |
Tanya Baleson | Planning Clerk |
Emgee Pretorius | Johan Snyman |
Israel Matseke-Zulu | Vy |
Connie Mfuku | Mother Who Lost Her Son |
Walter Knight | Morgan |
Jacques Gombault | Cop #2 |
Dada Koyana | Suspicious Woman |
Etienne Muller | Cop #1 |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Jason Filardi | Executive Producer |
Andreas Grosch | Executive Producer |
Andreas Schmid | Executive Producer |
Matt Milich | Executive Producer |
Dumisani Dlamini | Producer |
Wendy Knill | Producer |
Zachary Matz | Producer |
Matt Milich | Producer |
Chris Sievernich | Producer |
Rudolf Wichmann | Producer |