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GIFFONI FILM FESTIVAL 2004 - 17.24 July

Sections & Films

BEAT THE DRUM

Category: Edition 2004

Synopsis

When his mother and father become victims of “the curse” which is destroying his remote African village, nine-year-old Musa, a Zulu boy, is determined to find his long-lost uncle and earn enough money to help his grandmother to buy a new cow. The old one, that guaranteed their survival, has been sacrificed in the attempt to save Musa’s father life. The boy embarks into a journey to the heart of AIDS-torn Africa. After crossing the African wilderness, he finds himself into the teeming metropolis of Johannesburg. His only possessions is his wit, determination, and a small drum, a gift from his dying father. His courage and resourcefulness are tested in the concrete jungle of the big city. He finds himself surrounded by violent street gangs and the indifference that keeps thousands of children orphaned and homeless. His friendships with a local truck driver and a street-wise young girl help him survive and confront the realities of the new plague.

Original Title BEAT THE DRUM
Category Official Competition
Section Free to Fly
Tipology Feature Film
Duration 114'
Production Year 2003
Nationality South Africa
Directed by David Hickson
Screenplay W. David McBrayer
Script W. David McBrayer
Director of photography Lance Gewer
Editor Mark Winitsky
Production Design Johnny Breedt
Costume Design Ruy Filipe
Sound Emile Razpopov
Music Klaus Badelt, Ramin Djawadi
Main cast Junior Singo (Musa)
Noluthando Maleka (Letti)
Keketso Semoko (Sophie)
Nthati Moshesh (Frances)
Dineo Nchabeleng (Thandi)
Owen Sejake (Nobe)
Produced by W. David McBrayer, Karen S. Shapiro, Richard Shaw
Access

beat the drum regDavid Hickson

David Hickson grew up in Cape Town, South Africa. He began his professional career as an architect, working for several years in London, before returning to South Africa to study film. He chose to remain in South Africa because he wanted to play a part in the development of a South African style of filmmaking, using the strong story-telling culture of the country. BEAT THE DRUM is Mr. Hickson’s first feature. He also directed two short films, ANGEL IN A CAGE, winner of the Avanti Craft Award for direction, and SKELETONS AT THE FEAST, winner of the Kodak Award for best dramatic short film.

 

Director’s statement

“BEAT THE DRUM is a story of hope and the triumph of the human spirit in times of adversity. It is an authentic South African story, inspired by true events, which realistically portrays the plight South Africa finds itself in today as it faces the decimation of its population. But the heart of the film lies in its message of hope. The story is told through the eyes of a ten-year old boy, and so we searched always for lyrical and emotional ways of telling his story, with the result that the film becomes more of an emotional journey than an exposition of the dire situation in South Africa. It is a journey which encompasses sadness and joy, tragedy and exultation”.

Production

Festival contact
Z Productions
5959 Franklin Avenue #105 Los Angeles, CA 90028 - USA
phone +1 3234670788
fax +1 3234670990
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World sales
Andrew Herwitz
443 Greenwich St. 5th Floor New York, NY 10013 - USA
phone +1 2126250535
fax +1 212 6250534
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