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Kunene's success is marred throughout the second half of the film by a drug dealer named Tony Ngu. Kunene wants Ngu to leave so that he can build his empire without interference from drug lords. Nazareth, a member of Lucky's housing trust, becomes involved with Ngu and is eventually busted for drugs.
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At this point, the film skips ahead ten years. Lucky and his friend now run a taxi business in the
Hillbrow section of Johannesburg. They lose their business after Lucky himself is carjacked. Frustrated with his living conditions and inability to obtain economic mobility, Lucky creates the "Hillbrow
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s filmmakers initially sought to distribute the film in theaters through the South
African cinema chain Ster-Kinekor, but because the filmmakers sought to hold onto rights for release on DVD and TV, the chain chose not to back them. Instead, the filmmakers found backing from Metro FM and the Gauteng
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was difficult because the filmmakers struggled to find a budget when South Africa's
National Film and Video Foundation would not invest in their project. The filmmakers found enough financing to make the film, and Ziman reflected that the budget was smaller than music videos he had directed. Ziman
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to take a harsh but realistic look at
Johannesburg, but I also wanted to reflect the hopes and aspirations of its citizens. When you look at Hillbrow from a distance, it does look like that shining city on a hill, the New Jerusalem that will be our salvation, but when you get onto its streets, you
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find another story." The director also used an
African hymn, "Jerusalema", throughout the film, saying of the intent, " might seem pretty cynical but it also underlines a continuing sense of hope." Ziman also sought to connect the crime wave to the political changes taking place in South Africa.
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neighborhood of
Johannesburg, South Africa. Writer-director Ralph Ziman learned and investigated about how a successful businessman bought buildings in Hillbrow through Legal Purchase and began researching the phenomenon, interviewing reporters, police officers, social workers, and lawyers and
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People’s
Housing Trust". The trust allows Kunene to build an empire of apartment buildings in Hillbrow. He promises residents half price on their rent. Kunene collects all the residents's rent, then negotiates aggressively with landlords so that they accept the reduced rent. Kunene becomes a
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Township. Lucky learns he has not earned a scholarship to continue his education. In need of money, Kunene and Zakes meet a local crime lord, Nazareth, who was formerly a
Russian-trained guerrilla. Nazareth sets up Lucky and Zakes with several small-time robberies. These crimes escalate to
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Ngu, determined to fight back against Lucky's attempts to force him away, entices Leah's brother with drugs to sneak out of Lucky's house. Lucky goes after Leah's brother, but he is found dead. A troubled Lucky contemplates with Zakes about killing Ngu. Soon after, they are involved in a
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large-scale car-jackings, prompting Lucky to give up his educational aspirations. Lucky's final robbery goes horribly wrong, leaving
Nazareth imprisoned and much of his crew dead. Lucky and Zakes narrowly escape. They decide to lie low and move to Johannesburg.
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Kunene next meets a white South
African woman, Leah Friedlander. He helps rescue her brother, a drug addict, from drug dealers. After their encounter, Kunene begins a relationship with her. Kunene and Leah buy a house in the suburbs and move in together.
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The film begins with Lucky Kunene lying on a bed, covered in blood. Police officers barge into his room and arrest him for murder charges. The film cuts to the interrogation room, where Kunene says he will provide his full back-story.
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grossed US$ 400,000 at 14 theaters in the course of a month. The South African film was submitted to the Academy Awards for consideration to qualify as a nominee for Best Foreign Language Film. The film was expected to succeed
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In prison, Kunene quickly orchestrates his own escape. Kunene feigns illness, and is transported from prison to the hospital. There, Kunene is under less security. With the help of his remaining friends, he escapes and resides in
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Producer Tendeka Matatu said the characters were based on sketches from their research for the film. The producer said of the character's background: "During the research of the script we came across many
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said of the experience, "We used skateboards as dollies on the set and old-technology cameras to film. We cut down on the crew but I don't think anyone who sees the film will realise that."
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figure, gaining the title "The Hoodlum of Hillbrow". As Kunene builds his empire of residential buildings, Detective Blakkie Swart builds a case against Kunene.
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on 11 February 2008. The film was commercially released in South Africa on 29 August 2008, and the film was well received by critics and audiences.
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The rest of the film tells Kunene's life story leading up to his arrest. The story begins with Kunene and his friend Zakes as teenagers living in the
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is as quick and devastating as a smash and grab." He said of the direction, "Ziman's extensive experience as a music video director ... makes
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Lucky describes the bust as "exactly the excuse Swart needed" to begin making arrests and demolishing Lucky's buildings.
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vets who are living on the very edge of poverty and who, after fighting for a better life for all, now feel betrayed."
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About 50 percent of the film was in English and the other 50 in African languages that I could barely understand.
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is based on the story of Lucky Kunene, an underworld figure who in the 1990s took over real estate in the
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Lehman, Daniel (2011). ""When We Remembered Zion:" The Oscar, The Tsotsi, And The Contender".
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criticized the film for its portrayal of the military veterans. Its national chairperson,
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List of South African submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
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as the next South African contender for the award, but Ziman's film was not selected.
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Film Commission, which helped them with publicity, including a premiere in Berlin.
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discovering that this practice was commonplace. Ziman wrote the script for
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based on his research. He said of the film and its title, "I wanted
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Music Is My Life – Dr. Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo
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525:"'Gangster's Paradise' Director: Language Woes in New South Africa"
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criticized the film for its title, based on the holy city of
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Hammond, Pete (2010). "Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema".
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783:"Jerusalema not selected for Oscar 2009 nominations"
1064:Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
608:"Hillbrow Building Hijackings Hit the Big Screen"
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568:From South Africa, in English, Zulu and Setswana
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665:(3). Academic Search Alumni Edition: 113–129.
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293:where he always dreamed of living there.
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689:"Oscar gets trip to 'Jerusalema'"
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317:Shelly Meskin as Leah Friedlander
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468:was used for a gangster's name.
1251:South African crime drama films
893:Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema
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720:Ronge, Barry (31 August 2008).
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395:Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema
354:Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema
308:Ronnie Nyakale as Zakes Mbolelo
223:Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema
31:Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema
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610:. Money Web. 7 September 2008
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120:United International Pictures
842:"Churches slam 'Jerusalema'"
236:to qualify as a nominee for
16:For the Master KG song, see
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753:"Jerusalema raises the bar"
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330:Eugene Wanangwa Khumbanyiwa
320:Malusi Skenjana as Tony Ngu
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1286:Films scored by Alan Lazar
934:FESPACO Best Editing Prize
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311:Jeffrey Zekele as Nazareth
238:Best Foreign Language Film
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1256:Films set in South Africa
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25:2008 South African film
1246:2008 crime drama films
441:crackle with energy."
634:Ziman, Ralph (2009).
1291:2000s American films
553:"Topics: Jerusalema"
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134:February 2008
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303:Rapulana Seiphemo
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77:Rapulana Seiphemo
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638:. Muti Films
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177:South Africa
165:Running time
81:Robert Hobbs
22:
240:. It was a
207:$ 2 million
169:120 minutes
93:Nic Hofmeyr
67:Ralph Ziman
64:Produced by
59:Ralph Ziman
51:Ralph Ziman
48:Directed by
1241:2008 films
1235:Categories
1140:Little One
1108:Jerusalema
1076:Mapantsula
1008:Jerusalema
882:Jerusalema
642:21 October
614:21 October
582:Back Stage
562:19 January
534:19 January
508:19 January
484:References
439:Jerusalema
435:Jerusalema
431:Jerusalema
411:Jerusalema
403:Jerusalema
383:Jerusalema
367:Jerusalema
363:Jerusalema
349:Production
267:Robin Hood
229:Jerusalema
212:Box office
153:2008-08-29
110:Alan Lazar
56:Written by
18:Jerusalema
1180:The Wound
1092:Yesterday
1000:Making Of
992:Le Prince
941:1972–2000
847:The Times
819:The Times
787:nfvfco.va
727:The Times
594:507102232
458:Jerusalem
429:wrote of
426:The Times
215:$ 400,000
182:Languages
98:Edited by
1156:Elelwani
1062:for the
661:. 2011.
590:ProQuest
529:The Wrap
472:See also
466:Nazareth
358:Hillbrow
195:Setswana
106:Music by
74:Starring
1212:Barakat
1204:Toorbos
949:Bezness
694:Variety
503:Variety
390:Release
188:English
174:Country
151: (
138:2008-02
136: (
1221:(2023)
1215:(2021)
1207:(2020)
1199:(2019)
1191:(2018)
1183:(2017)
1175:(2016)
1167:(2015)
1159:(2014)
1151:(2013)
1143:(2012)
1135:(2011)
1132:Beauty
1127:(2010)
1119:(2009)
1111:(2008)
1103:(2005)
1100:Tsotsi
1095:(2004)
1087:(1997)
1084:Paljas
1079:(1989)
1019:(2021)
1011:(2009)
1003:(2007)
995:(2005)
987:(2003)
968:(1999)
960:(1997)
952:(1993)
757:News24
592:
588:(23).
417:Tsotsi
291:Durban
258:Soweto
204:Budget
142: (
1016:Souad
398:'
887:IMDb
855:2009
827:2009
799:2009
769:2009
735:2009
702:2009
644:2013
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