The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)

The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)

What diffence can a Coke bottle make? - JW

A Bushman in the Kalahari desert encounters technology for the first time--in the shape of a Coke bottle. He takes it back to his people, and they use it for many tasks. The people start to fight over it, so he decides to return it to the Gods--where he thinks it came from. Meanwhile, we are introduced to a clumsy biologist, a schoolteacher assigned to a small village, and a despotic revolutionary.

9/10
Masterpiece
Swambi6 November 2004
A unique film with a brilliant combination of slapstick, subtle humour, wonderful music, brilliant wildlife and scenic shots, all beautifully woven into a piece in an almost "road-style" movie around the adventures of a bushman.

Like any story, there are some aspects which are slightly unbelievable if you stop to think - but the skill of the film is that it is sufficiently convincing to suspend such unbelief whilst you watch.

The message of the film is brilliantly presented, subtly challenging the belief that white civilization has all the answers, gently poking fun at many of our western assumptions (no idea why anyone thinks it's racist - it may be the opposite)!

Some of the high points for me personally were the scenery, the wildlife, and the African huts, children and music. Having lived in Africa for 3 years it was absolutely true to life, and brought back fond memories. This is a classic that will bear watching time and time again, and so different from the run of the mill films generally churned out.

10/10

A brilliant comedy, worthy of many viewings.

My wife says "If you want a little lightness in your life, this one's a gem.' This South African film was written and directed by Jamie Uys, who also plays The Reverend. The film is in English with some Afrikaans and a little of the dialogue is in Xhosa, a language with many consonants which are different clicking sounds; it is an interesting experience just to hear it.

In his travels, a bushman in the Kalahari desert, find a Coca-Cola bottle that was thrown from an airplane. Thinking it a gift from the gods, he takes it to his village where it becomes a very popular item but also creates grave problems (hence the title of the film). In his quest to get rid of the bottle by throwing it off the end of the world, he encounters civilization for the first time; we hear his puzzled thoughts through a narrator, and we are able to see ourselves through the eyes of an innocent. In a separate story, a beautiful schoolteacher, Kate (Sandra Prinsloo) is assigned to a remote village and has to deal with a shy scientist, Andrew Steyn (Marius Weyers), who becomes a total klutz in the presence of a pretty woman. These two hilarious stories converge with even more hilarious results. The sequel was no match for the original.

This beautifully-crafted film contains subtle comedy, farce, romance, drama, action and believable slapstick (equal to Chaplin's best). The film played at the Capitol Theatre in Toronto for over a year, getting considerable repeat business: those who loved it would later bring their friends. You too will love these warm, wonderful characters and boo the villains.