Cobb takes a look at this Hollywood warhorse and goes someplace unique:
In the genre of "wow check out these weird African animals and tribes" flicks, I'm not very savvy. And for the sake of stating the obvious, you can clearly see why the African nations involved did their best to get whole villages decked out and put all in frame for the sake of the whiteys on and off camera and in posterity. Pictures of elephant are a dime a dozen, but native dance on that scale just doesn't play very often here in the States. I was flat mesmerized, especially for the final shindig. I actually got into that sentimental zone where I'm thinking - maybe we've lost something extraordinary here. I don't know. Have we? It does get back to the question of what a free man does on the daily. After all, it's the Left who wants everyone to have a state guaranteed minimum wage, affordable housing and a small, fuel efficient car with airbags. The Watusi don't want that, do they? So who is going about destroying indigenous culture? It's the socialist, because he can't leave anybody alone. Not in Darfur, not in Somalia, not in Haiti. Everyone must be rescued. Everyone must have health care. Everyone must have instant citizenship in the comfiest nation on Earth. You know, before it warms over. -- King Solomon's Mines - CobbPosted by Vanderleun at February 2, 2010 8:17 PM
Cobb's right. It's impossible to see these scenes without an aching sense of loss for the beautiful peoples which once graced the planet.
With the greatest respect for the sadness and frustration of what must be his daily meal as a Black man in the current situation, I would also submit for our consideration Stanley Baker's Zulu, a feast of photography which offers this goosebumper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q8EM0G8tjg&feature=related
Two great cultures, both now gone. Alas, alas, but by God we're not gonna die awhimper.
Posted by: Rob De Witt at February 2, 2010 9:37 PMI have watched this movie dozens of times. What is intriguing to me are the very tall people: the Watutsi.
You won't find them today. How did they come to look like this? I would speculate that they come from the ruling class. Their height would result from close interbreeding among the elites selecting for height as a "royal" attribute. Also, they would have better than average nutrition because of their rank. Their lack of muscle mass shows that they did not have to perform hard labor.
My meager research about the movie is that the royal compound was not a set but was the real deal. If you watch the movie pay attention to the flute players at the end. This is no "hollywood" improvisation. This is a glimpse into the "royal" Watutsi culture.
I have a DVD of the movie and you've moved me to watch it again tonight.
Later.
Posted by: viktor silo at February 2, 2010 9:44 PM"Zulu" is a bit more subversive than people generally think, but yeah, where else are you going to get to see a Zulu charge?
Posted by: Eric Blair at February 3, 2010 4:49 PM"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated to combat spam and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.
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