Silverton Siege is a South African action thriller film directed by debutant filmmaker Mandla Dube. This film stars well-known local actors, such as Thabo Rametsi, Arnold Vosloo, Nacolo Dlamini, Michelle Mosalakae, and Elani Dekker. Netflix just released this film on April 27. Unexpectedly, this film, which was inspired by actual events, provided action entertainment and a huge political message.
Calvin Khumalo (Rametsi) and three of his friends joined an anti-apartheid anarchist militant group in South Africa in 1980. Calvin and his team intend to blow up the power plant. Somehow, their plans had already been caught by the police at the location. They ran away from the police until they were cornered in a bank that only had one access. They took over the bank along with dozens of employees and customers to be able to negotiate with the police. Amid a tight situation, Calvin also took advantage of the situation for his group’s political interests to free Nelson Mandela.
Without expectations, this film is unexpectedly able to give a big surprise. Not only the story but also the aesthetic packaging. Opened through a light tone with a classy sense of “humor,” this film can present violent acts here and there without showing the brutal side at all. Try to compare it with Hotel Mumbai, which from the beginning to the end, presents non-stop acts of sadistic violence that are tense and trigger the audience’s adrenaline. On the other hand, Silverton packs it with the filmmaker’s unique touch style so that his violent acts look “smooth” through camera angles and movements, editing, the tone of the people in the picture, to its spontaneous dialogue.
We don’t feel the realist approach is usually used in a typical type of plot. Uniquely, although the plot runs intensely without pause, the story is told almost without tension. This film doesn’t feel like an action thriller but is a drama. The plotline effectively makes us fully sympathize with the protagonist. Slowly but surely, the story’s direction began to reveal its true face. The filmmaker did not want to give a brutal impression of his story, which has a strong message about peace and freedom. The filmmaker can produce an extraordinary work through its understated aesthetic touch and supported by excellent casts; the filmmaker can create a great “classic” work.
Silverton Siege was unexpectedly able to carry out his big message in a very touching and classy way with a solid script, light-hearted style, and expressive appearance of the main cast. The film is almost flawless, with its biggest weakness being the script that doesn’t match the facts. This isn’t a problem, and the film isn’t headed that way. Silverton Siege is an excellent example of how this medium is effectively and brilliantly able to entertain the audience and has valuable lessons about the dark side of humanity that still exists. Is it necessary to act violently in the name of freedom? History has the answer. What is the price of freedom? Everything
