DOLLARS AND WHITE PIPES

South Africa, 2005, 96 minutes, Colour.
Clint Brink, Joe Resdien, Jonathan Pienaar, Kevin Smith, Dale Abrahams.
Directed by Donovan Marsh.

This is an ambitious South African feature, a story of the emergence of gangs in the townships in the 1970s and 1980s. It is based on the actual activities of a young man from the townships, Bernard Baatijies.

The film opens with a picture of a family, the pressure of the father who is a devout and strict religious minister, the mother supporting her son – who spends a lot of his time watching Dallas and is intrigued by the personality of J.R. Ewing. The film shows life in the townships, the violence of the gangs, the deaths. Bernie experiences grief at friends’ deaths – although, in a fight, he leaves one of his friends to die (he doesn't die and this has later repercussions).

When Bernie decides to go to Cape Town to make his fortune, a series of fortunate events for him enable him to ingratiate himself with the owner of a club. He exploits a simple young man who begins to rely on him – and, on the whole, he supports him. However, he is always ready to betray.

The film shows a South African parallel to American stories of gangsters and Mafia experiences. Bernie falls in and out of luck, loses everything, regains everything. However, his conscience is rarely bothered. Ultimately, he has to make some decisions and, while they are self-centred, there is some concern about his friend and he begins to prosper, especially by moving to Johannesburg.

The film was written and directed by Donovan Marsh, a South African producer-director for popular television shows like Who Wants To Be a Millionaire as well as a number of music videos, commercials and documentaries. It can be compared to other stories of the early 21st century that treat boys in gangs in Cape Town who learn to make good, despite difficulties: The Flyer, The Wooden Camera.

1. South African stories on-screen? Pre-apartheid? Post-apartheid? This film showing the vitality of the film industry?

2. The film’s perspective on society, on the black settlements, on the role of the coloured people in South African society, in Cape Town? Prospects and lack of prospects, opportunity? Violence and crime, drugs and money? Dreams?

3. The title, the reference to money and guns? Its tone? The vocabulary throughout the film and the subtitles giving the word, pronunciation and meaning?

4. The role of Dallas and the soap operas on television? Watched throughout the world? The American ideal of wealth and power? Serving as role models? Dallas style, wealth, clothes, cars? The contrast with people’s ordinary lives, the range of people watching, in the South African settlements? Envy and trying to ape the styles? The final irony that J.R. actually got shot?

5. Bernie’s voice-over, his giving the facts, his own commentary, his own perspective? How much accurate self-analysis, the blind spots? His telling the audience early that he would kill for Kuyser and the audience waiting for what would happen?

6. The sketch of his parents, his preaching father, stern biblical morality, ousting his son, Bernie visiting again, his father condemning him and barring him from the house?

7. Bernie growing up, the glimpse of him as a child, the possibilities of schools at each corner only? The gangs and the explanation of each of the gangs, their ethos and names? The visualising and style of presenting the fights, vicious, guns and knives? Angelo and his being stabbed and Bernie running away? The vindictive man who stabbed him and his later reappearance and the irony that Bernie would kill him?

8. The role of drugs, continually being stoned? Preparing the guns, the sales? Bernie and his ultimate fear? Leaving Angelo?

9. On the train, Cape Town opening up, his high hopes, being J.R., the ladder of success? Eating the bread, drinking with the old men, passing out, his shoes stolen? Meeting Cecil on the train, Cecil and his simplicity, Cecil believing everything, Bernie explaining that his feet needed hardening and taking his shoes? Taking the information about the job?

10. Bernie going to the club, seeing Kuyser and the others, Mr B? His approach, pressurising, Mr B explaining the rules? Cecil turning up, Bernie smooth-talking him about losing the job, offering to get him another? His help, carrying the drinks, his decision to suck up to Mr B but mistaking his drinking habits? His doing well, the bar and the tips? His going out with Cecil and taking the photos with the white girls, with the cars, the mansions? Showing them to Mr B? His being promoted to barman? Race issues, white prejudice? Cecil and his misuse yet going to stay with his aunt?

11. The stealing of the drinks, selling them on the sly, Mr B telling him about the accounts, taking him for the drink, Mr B explaining his life, the drugs, jail, wasting thirty-five years of his life, life opening up for him? The moral lesson for Bernie and his learning it? His liking for Mr B, appreciating him?

12. Kuyser, the drugs, his henchmen, the visits to the clubs, his using Mr B? Zane and the heavy-handedness, Mr B shooting him? Mr B fleeing, giving Bernie half the money? Bernie wasting the money but then selling the club?

13. Bernie and his collapse, the drinking, Cecil and setting up the bar again, calling it Dallas? His making it a success, his dancing, the J.R. style? His confiding in the audience? Kuyser arriving with his henchmen, offering the protection, Bernie refusing? The violence in the bar, the shooting? The collapse? Bernie and Kuyser and the offer of money to rebuild the club?

14. The new lease of life, the glamour, going to Kuyser’s place, the party, sex and cocaine, the girl? The arrangement and Kuyser having control? The drug-dealing in the bar, the collage of his drug-taking, Jacinthe, his life going downhill?

15. Mr B arriving, Bernie glad to see him, Johannesburg and his hopes, offering Bernie the opportunity, Bernie talking about selling the car? Betraying him to Kuyser, the bashing, his not being able to shoot him? Zane and the shooting and his blackmailing him and taking the drugs?

16. Bernie and his using the barmen to scam Zane? The confrontation with Kuyser, Kuyser believing Bernie and dismissing Zane? Zane, his return, his beating Bernie, Cecil hitting him and killing him? The consequences for Cecil? Bernie with the gun, shooting the assailant?

17. Kuyser, his tests, his bashing of Bernie?

18. The image of the steps, Bernie’s explanation? Bernie and his lies, doctoring the photos, the lies about the mansion to Cecil? His visits home, meeting Angelo again, his drug-taking? His relationship with Cecil, Cecil as a good young man, slow on the uptake, devoted to Bernie, his taking Cecil in, rescuing him at the end?

19. The aftermath and Bernie having the club in Johannesburg – the fable of succeeding beyond J.R? The vision of material success as the fulfilment of African dreams?