BEAT THE DRUM

South Africa, 2003, 114 minutes, Colour.
Junior Singo, Owen Sejake.
Directed by David Hickson.

Beat the Drum is a South African film, made in 2003, a particular perspective on the growing spread of AIDS in the country. At this time and in the years after, there werere a number of films made with the theme of AIDS, films like Yesterday.

This film is a mixture of narrative, a story about a young boy, his life in the village, his going to Johannesburg to find work and to find his uncle. Ultimately, it becomes a preaching message film, with discussion about AIDS, the spread by men to women, the issue of condoms, the silence and fear amongst the community. There are scenes of a campaign at the end of the film with the truck driver urging a congregation to think about AIDS and the Minister giving a sermon, urging people to unite together to confront the disease.

Junior Singo plays a young boy, Musa. His father dies of AIDS, with the village is decimated by adults dying of the disease. We see scenes of a witchdoctor and the sacrifice a the cow, the silence of the chief of the village about AIDS.

On his way to Johannesburg, Musa encounters a friendly truck driver and gets a lift. He disappears into the streets, looking for work, seeing people clean car windows, getting some tips, getting some snubs. He meets a young girl and befriends her.

Musa and the truck driver meet up a second time and he gets a lift back home, giving his grandmother money and the truck driver also giving her a wad of notes.

There is a subplot where the manager of the business is dismayed to discover that his son has AIDS and dies. He determines to do something for his workers and provides blood tests. The truck driver volunteers and the other workers follow. The truck driver also becomes more conscious about AIDS and delivers a pep talk to a religious congregation who are initially hostile and the Minister also gives a sermon on unity in the face of the disease.

A film of its time and of its place, but engaging as the portrait of the young boy.

1. A South African story, post-apartheid, post-1994 elections, issues of racism, equality?


2. An AIDS story, the perspective of 2003, AIDS in Africa, South Africa? A message film? A blend of preaching and narrative?

3. The title, Musa and his drum, the gift from his father, carrying it everywhere, not wanting to lose it? The end, and the campaign concerning HIV?

4. The location photography, the village, the mountains, the homes, the school, roads? The pit stops? Johannesburg, the modern aspects, the streets, poor areas, offices, the hospital, homes? Realism? The musical score?

5. Life in the village, the grandmother, all the children, the witchdoctor and the rituals, killing the cow, beliefs? The role of the chief? The adults dying from AIDS? Its not being mentioned? The father dying, Musa and his father? The drum? His cousin, school, the teacher and the suggestions of inappropriate sexual behaviour? His illness, AIDS, the danger of the cousin? The difficulties in the village with so many deaths?

6. Musa, going to the city, looking for work, looking for money to buy the car, wanting to find his uncle? Walking round, observing? Seeing Nobe? With the prostitutes? Nobe and the lift, travelling, talking, pleasant, hopes?

7. Nobe, driving, going to the headquarters, Musa leaving, Nobe going home, his family, talking with his wife about AIDS, his impatience and Andrea, leaving?

8. Musa, the streets, seeing the gang, finding the girl and becoming her friend, cleaning the windows of the cars, snubs, tips, sleeping out, the search for food, in garbage disposals? The time with the girl, talking, losing, finding her?

9. The manager of the company, his son, charity work, his collaborator, in hospital, diagnosed with AIDS, his father coming, sitting at his bedside, his death? The effect on the father?

10. Musa, meeting and Nobe again, getting a lift, going home, giving the money to his grandmother, Nobe giving her money as well? Nobe at the pit stop, his friend, not going with the girls? The discussion about AIDS, his drinking, the Minister finding him, bringing him to the church, sobering him up? The gathering about AIDS? The reaction of the congregation? Nobe and his speech, the need for unity in the face of AIDS? The drum and beating it in the street together the people? The pastor and his sermon?

11. Nobe and the manager of the company, his offering the AIDS tests, the assistant volunteering, Nobe volunteering, the others following? The appreciation of the manager? The discussions about Musa, finding a place for him? News of the death of his uncle, a good security guard?

12. At the Institute, finding his friend, the swings, happy together?

13. The impact of the film for a South African audience in its time? Later? Beyond South Africa?