Best African Films To Watch With Your Family
You can’t go wrong with these African films if you want to spend some quality time with your family. We’ve compiled a list of our favorites, so there’s something for everyone: action, comedy, drama…you name it! So sit back and relax, because we’re about to show you how Africa produces some of its best films yet!
The Lion King (1994)
The Lion King (1994) is a film about a lion cub who grows up to become King of the Jungle. The plot was inspired by William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” play. It received numerous awards and was remade in several languages.
The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)
Jamie Uys wrote and directed the 1980 South African comedy film The Gods Must Be Crazy. It tells the story of Xi (N!xau), a San bushman who discovers an empty Coca-Cola bottle while hunting with his tribe in the Kalahari Desert. The tribesmen believe it is evil and tie it up with rope before attempting to destroy it with fire arrows, which also fail due to their lack of knowledge about how fire works.
When Xi returns home with his discovery, he discovers that his wife Nandi (Marilyn Nelly) has been kidnapped and replaced by another woman named Tshabalala (Sally Kosgei). Xi embarks on a journey across Africa in search of vengeance against those who took her away from him.
Living in Bondage (1980)
Jamie Uys directed the South African film Living in Bondage. It came out in 1980. The film tells the story of Nthabiseng, a young girl who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. She is transported to work in Johannesburg, where she meets a black man who teaches her to read. The film received an Oscar nomination for best foreign language film, but it was banned in South Africa due to its political content.
The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas star in The Ghost and the Darkness as two men hunting lions in Africa. This film, based on a true story, is ideal for viewing with your family. The plot revolves around these two men as they attempt to track down two man-eating lions that are terrorizing their camp.
This film has been rated PG because there is some violence, but nothing too extreme or graphic in comparison to what they’re after!
Tsotsi (2005)
Gavin Hood wrote and directed the 2005 South African drama film Tsotsi. It tells the story of a young gang leader who undergoes a dramatic transformation after being forced to murder a woman. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and went on to win several awards, including Best Picture at the British Independent Film Awards in 2006 and Best Film Not in English at the BAFTA Awards in 2007.
Tsotsi (Presley Chweneyagae), an 18-year-old man from an impoverished township, is raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, with little parental guidance or authority figures in his life except his uncle Job (Terry Pheto). He leads a group of children who steal cars for money and other items such as food in order to live on their own terms rather than relying on charity from others. Boy Boy (Brandon O’Neill), another member of the same group but one year younger than Tsotsi, is his only friend.
Mandela, My Dad And Me (2004)
Mandela, My Dad And Me is a 2004 film directed by Darrell Roodt and co-written by Roodt and Michael Radford.
The film depicts Nelson Mandela’s childhood, during which he spent the majority of his life in prison.
Conclusion
Films can be used to introduce people to new cultures and experiences they may not have had otherwise. For example, if your children enjoy cartoons and animation but you also want them to be exposed to other cultures and languages, African films are an excellent choice!
African films are also great because they frequently contain messages that teach children about important social issues such as poverty or gender equality (this may sound boring, but trust me when I say it won’t be). This means that your child will learn something new while having fun!