Product Details

• Actors: Junior Singo, Clive Scott, Nthati Moshesh, Owen Sejake, Nolunthando Maleka
• Directors: David Hickson
• Writers: W. David McBrayer
• Producers: W. David McBrayer
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Z Productions LLC
• DVD Release Date: November 20, 2007
• Run Time: 114 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000TJ6PA6
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,132 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

A young, orphaned boy sets out for the big city to find his uncle after a mysterious illness strikes his village. Driven by his determination to survive and his growing social awareness, he finds a way to make an honest living and returns to his village with a truth and understanding his elders have failed to grasp. Beat the Drum is an emotional and timely drama reminding us how one small voice can be the brave start of a colossal change - uniting a village, a township, and even a nation.

Features on the DVD include Behind-the-Scenes, a Theatrical Trailer and a Free Downloadable Cross Curriculum - Discovering South Africa through Journeys in Film™

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must See, November 2, 2007

By 

Betty Rushford (Chattanooga, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beat the Drum (DVD)

I have seen this film several times while flying overseas. I'm anxiously awaiting it's release in the States to purchase several copies. Having lost a son to AIDS I know firsthand the struggles the patients and their families endure. I'm also a missionary to several African countries and know the magnitude of the stigma and suffering. Whether you're affected by this disease or not, this is a heart-warming story that you won't want to miss. It's an eye opener to the facts surrounding this disease in that part of the world.

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Sad. I Cried for Africa., June 17, 2008

By 

Jonathan Stephens "Jonathan Stephens" (Huntington Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beat the Drum (DVD)

Every once in a while a film comes along that really says something that matters. Recommended from another writer's book on poverty and social change along with BLOOD DIAMOND and TSOTSI, I picked up the film. It employed purely African actors and film crews, besides the director, out of a purposeful effort. BEAT THE DRUM ended up being one of those films that matters. Enjoy.

Set in southern Africa near Jo'burg, the story follows the journeys of a young boy named Musa. His mother and cousins have all died from the curse, but when his father dies from it at the beginning of the film, he is doomed to be known as the boy from the cursed family. He leaves his small village and heads to Jo'burg to look for his uncle and buy a cow for his grandmother, a journey which leads him into danger on the streets of the big city as he scraps for money and food amid the street riffraff.

The secondary storylines follow an older truck driver who is on the road a lot, whose wife does not trust that he is faithful while away and worries he'll give her AIDS. The owner of the truck driving company has a son who he learns is dying of AIDS, but doesn't want to face the truth of the disease's lack of favoritism.

The film puts faces and stories to the disease that is ravaging the African continent. There is much fear and ignorance surrounding the disease. People don't want to talk about it. Using local spiritists, they'd rather call on their ancestors for help than listen to the local medical workers. Some of them even want to spread the disease out of spite for the persons who gave it to them. The situation is dire, yet knowledge of the situation seems scarce enough in America. Not only does BEAT THE DRUM give a necessary voice to the voiceless Africans, it puts forward fantastic acting jobs and cinematography. The film is beautiful and sad, and while watching, I cried for Africa.

---Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beat the drum, January 2, 2008

By 

Linda Holden Givens (Auburn, Washington) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beat the Drum (DVD)

Excellent, excellent, excellent movie. Whoever wrote this is a master. What a great story. There should be more movies like this.