Product Details

• Actors: Stanley Baker, Clement Mehlomakulu Tlhotlhhalemji, Ken Gampu, John Sithebe, Siegfried Mynhardt
• Format: NTSC
• Language: Afrikaans, English
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: June 22, 1994
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00008EYCU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #692,426 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great on Several Levels, October 17, 2005

By 

John A Lee III "jal3" (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dingaka [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a nice little film on several levels. It is from Jamie Uys, who also directed THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY and ANIMALS ARE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. This film is not the comedy that those were. Instead, it is a drama taking place in Southern Africa.

The primary story concerns a tribesman who learns that the heart of his daughter has been eaten by another member of the tribe on the advice of the local witch doctor. This deed was done to secure powerful magic and increase the bad guy's prowess as a fighter. When the crime comes to light, however, he flees and the outraged father takes off after him. He is followed to the city of the white man where both are in unfamiliar environments. This leads to the father being taken advantage of and eventually having to find mining work to support himself while he seeks his foe. When he is found, he attempts to kill him and that gets him tangled up in the legal system he does not understand.

The secondary story is of the lawyer assigned to defend the gallant tribesman. He is cynical and no one, even his wife, seems to like him. He was not always thus but has become bitter and disillusioned. In taking this case, however, he begins to change back into a real human being. Eventually it is learned that the one ultimately responsible for all of the evil in the tribe's life is the witch doctor who uses his position and reputation to extort the other tribesman. The stage is set for a final conflict.

The film works as an examination of culture clash. It works equally well in its depiction of honor and character change. What will stay with me the longest, however, is the haunting music sung by the tribesmen and women. It is magnificent.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dingaka VHS, June 28, 2011

By 

Howard L. Novak (Dayton, WA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dingaka [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The VHS Dingaka was a very nice rendition of an excellent story on ZULU Tribal Customs, with an excellent cast. The music was the predecessor of Ipi Ntombi a hit South African Musical written by Bertha Egnos. The video arrived on time and was excellent quality.