Beat The Drum (2003/Genius Entertainment)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C Film: B-
David
Hickson’s Beat The Drum is the tale
of a young man named Muso (Junior Singo) looking for his uncle in the big city,
not knowing that the disease that has hit his village is AIDS and that he has
it. He faces rejection here and there,
burdened with the truth and knowledge that the “adults” do not want to deal
with, but that does not stop him from continuing his journey.
The
search for the uncle serves as a metaphor, but the film is even smarter than
that, thanks to a careful, well-rounded screenplay by producer/writer W. David
McBrayer. Stereotypes, clichés and
formulas are avoided as Muso continues what turns out to be an odyssey and
quest. The story in total takes a
deeper, more concerned look at the AIDS problem in poorer countries and is one
of the best dramatic projects to date to do so.
Since the major media is ignoring the situation far too much, the film
lands up being a quiet triumph that will hopefully become increasingly loud.
The
anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image is soft and likely second-generation
from the recent shoot, though it looks like a good shoot thanks to Director of
Photography Lance Gewer, who captures the raw look and feel of the city and
surrounding areas. It was shot in Super
35mm and Gewer later shot Tsotsi,
reviewed elsewhere on this site. The
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is not bad, though sports no major surrounds. Extras include trailer, behind-the-scenes
piece and a free downloadable piece you can go to now at:
www.journeysinfilm.org/Beat-The-Drum.html
Don’t
miss the film either.
- Nicholas Sheffo
