Bunny Chow: Know Thyself

This could have been a very good film, if I had been able to watch it. The hand held camera was very bouncy. From the opening credits I was worried. Several of us watching it felt very nauseous by the end. But we did stay until the end because it was such a charming and interesting film, giving some insight to the young pop culture in South Africa. The black and white film did enhance the artful feeling of it. The acting seemed very authentic. Some of the dialog was a little hard to understand, but a theater full of non-South Africans seemed to find most of it funny. If you get motion sickness at all though, you may seriously consider skipping this film. It's quaint, but not worth the nausea.

"Bunny Chow: Know Thyself" is a 2006 South African movie directed by John Barker. The movie tells the story of three comedians and a weird guy named Cope who embark on a raucous weekend journey to Oppikoppi, South Africa's biggest rock festival. The guys slip out of the city for a few dusty and increasingly absurd days with hopes of mass debauchery, drugs, rampant sex, true love, and conquering the comedy stages, but they get a bit more than they bargained for.

The movie is a hilarious and heartfelt road-trip comedy about South Africa's new generation. The pace of the movie is slow, but it gives the plot and the audience enough time to fully realize the implications of the eventual revelations. The cinematography is stunning, and the performances by the cast are exceptional. David Kibuuka delivers a nuanced and complex performance that captures the character's inner turmoil and transformation.

Overall, "Bunny Chow: Know Thyself" is a must-see film that will leave you moved and inspired. It is a masterpiece that deserves to be seen and appreciated by all.

I totally agree with the review by a reviewer of Variety that the film is never quite as funny, lively or insightful about the creative process as its premise would seem to warrant. Narratively it is messy and the lighting is really problematic. If the film is supposed to be character-driven the poor lighting doesn't enhance the acting and it is sometimes difficult to observe the facial expressions of the actors. Many non-South Africans will have difficulty in following the spoken English in the film and some of the local humor will be lost in the process. I watched the film at the Cape Town World Cinema festival last year. Comments and reactions to the film ranged from unwatchable and sloppy to a welcome departure from the films about our painful past. Unfortunately Bunny Chow won't be remembered as one of the bright lights of the South African New Wave, but some of the remarkable films about our apartheid history will indeed be rated among our best in our 110 year old film history. Not surprisingly the film disappeared from cinemas in Cape Town only two weeks after its release and from most of the cinemas in Durban and Gauteng. It has clearly limited appeal among South African audiences.

Most movies made regarding South Africa all centre on the old themes: Apartheid, HIV/AIDS, poverty, the African condition, etc. Bunny Chow, on the other hand, is about absolutely none of these things. It is just a movie, and as in all good movies, theme is subservient to character. What it does show is a few case studies on the new generation of South Africans, who can speak openly about contentious issues such as race in an atmosphere of mutual acceptance an even fascination.

Most importantly, though, is that it is funny. Really funny. Some of the dialogue is absolutely hilarious. Another surprise is the cinematography. Every image and motion bursts with originality. Shot completely in black and white, this comedy has a seriousness that in the end turns Bunny Chow into a pleasure to consider.

It's such a story teller movie. Love it. We need more of these movies in the entertainment industry. Been watching it since I was a child. I think that a good movie creates its own world, and that world needn't refer to anything that's real. If it's consistent, if it's entertaining, if it's interesting, it justifies its being there. At the end of the day it's got to be a good movie, it's got to be a funny movie, and it's got to make people think, 'Hey, I couldn't have spent my time any better.' I love going to the movies; I love watching good movie actors. They must know something I don't. Nice.