THE FLYER

South Africa, 2005, 91 minutes, Colour.
Ian van der Heyden, Marcel van Heerden, Craig Palm, Kim Engelbrecht.
Directed by Revel Fox.

Once a period of racial integration has begun, films emerge about the social consequences. Many African American features explore the criminal leanings and activities of so many boys in the 'hood. In recently, this has happened in post-apartheid South Africa. Some years ago, there was The Wooden Camera, a hopeful story that acknowledged the violence that gangs are prone to but highlights the fact that, when children is offered an opportunity to develop a talent and a purpose, they can gain a life. The Flyer has a lot in common with the plot of The Wooden Camera.

Keir and his friend Spies get into a lot of trouble. A chance encounter with a man who asks for his bag back from Keir when mugged leads to the man finding Keir again and making him work to pay back the money he stole. The man is a former trapeze artist who has become a trainer because of an accident to his leg. Of course, we know what is going to happen: the boy is fascinated, has ability, blossoms as he grows up, meets a girl, encounters Spies when he gets out of jail, is pressurised into helping his friend in a crime, becomes a champion.

That, again of course, does not matter much. We enjoy seeing how this hopeful plot plays out and sharing the emotions of Keir, as well as realising that he could lose it all.

The Flyer is didactic in an earnest and emotional way - offering worthwhile encouragement to boys in similar situations to Keir. The Flyer is a nice crowd-pleaser.

1. An entertainment? Crowd pleaser? Inspirational film?

2. The South African setting, Capetown, the outskirts, the centre of the city? The focus on the training warehouse? The musical score?

3. The familiar story, the post-apartheid period, the young boys in the gangs, their need for some kind of hope?

4. The opening, Keir and his skills as a trapeze artist, his attempting to do the triple somersault, the arrival of Spies? The flashbacks?

5. Keir and Spies as boys, the gangs on the outskirts, their robbing people, mugging people? The encounter with Anders, taking his bag? Anders asking Keir to give it back, Keir leaving the bag? Taking the money? The boys and their sleeping out in the open, the gangs, glue-sniffing etc?

6. The chance encounter of Anders meeting Keir again, putting him in the truck, making him do the work to earn his money? His climbing the ladder, cleaning the stand? His fascination with the trapeze artists and their practice? His asking Anders to train him?

7. The training, his skills? The hope for the future?

8. Anders, his own career, later information about his accident, attempting the quadruple? His personality, training young people? The loner? A good teacher, severe but kindly?

9. Keir growing up, his abilities? The contrast with Spies in jail? The incident, their being chased on the roof, Spies stabbing the policeman, Keir escaping with the ladder – and his being indebted to Spies? His visiting him in prison?

10. Spies getting out, complaints about the clothes, the truck? Going immediately back to crime? The meeting with Ricardo? Spies and the management of the club? The plan, his pressure on Keir to help him?

11. Keir, the day off, seeing Mickey and her dancing, the friendship, her sprained ankle and his help? The relationship, their going out, meeting Spies, his offering her the job, Keir advising her not to take it, seeing her dancing, getting her fired, her reaction?

12. The crime, Keir getting them in, the shooting, Spies’s death, his taking the money, giving it to Ricardo, the explanations to Mickey?

13. His clash with Anders, moodiness, going off? Meeting him again, asking for a second chance?

14. Anders, going to Johannesburg, bringing the French circus master to Capetown? Keir and his training, his failing, the accidents, especially with the catcher?

15. His attempting the quadruple, the success – and his future? His travel, France, the Eiffel Tower…?

16. The film offering hope, young people and their talents, being trapped in society, people being kind, offering opportunities? A film of hope?