Canary

The only problem with this movie is that the English subtitles will never do justice to the expressive dialogue in the Afrikaans language and the culture of the Afrikaans dominated defense force of the time. A rare insight into the internal dilemma of a young man, from a small town with big city ideas, forced into a situation (conscription to the armed forces) and finding that he is not alone.

I appreciated that it tackled not an easy subject matter and in a quasi-musical format too. Frankly I don't have much idea about the history of South Africa, and I, again, appreciate that it gave me a chance to have a glimpse of a chapter of its recent history.

But I can't dismiss the feeling it always shies away before it cuts deep. Whether it's the musical moment, Johan's fantasy, romance, conflict and even Johan's inner struggle for which the later part of the film does dedicated lots of time, the film flips to the next scene before it truly hits the high point. It feels almost like the whole film is under the influenced of Johan himself, who tries not to stand out and keeps his head down. For it being a musical, wouldn't it have been more fitting if there was at least one scene where music and emotion burst and flourish, even if it had to remain in a fantastical context than in reality?

For the very similar subject matter, I should say 'Moffie' was more detailed and emotionally charging experience. And I'm glad I watched Moffie before Kanarie otherwise it would have been bit more difficult to understand the historical and societal background.

"Before soon he is drafted, but because of his music talent, he joins the SADF Choir and Concert group, known as the 'Canaries', hence the title in Afrikaans. What happens after is a rite-of-passage that eventually makes him ascertain and come to terms with his sexuality, the emotional spectrum ranges from confusion, struggle, anguish to defiance, ebullience and solidarity, interspersed with beatific choir melodies and other philharmonic interludes."

read my full review on my blog: Cinema Omnivore, thanks.

The male canary is known for its song, a lyrical and happy sound that can end suddenly in a poisonous environment, hence its use in coal mines of the past to detect danger from toxic fumes. Take us then to South Africa in the 1980's, and begin a story told in Afrikaans that is at times bizarre, occasionally jolly but at its heart historically portentous of evil. The main character of the story is a closeted small town boy learning, after his conscription, how to be true to himself while under the control of a military state just a decade shy of its dissolution. To be sure, this is not a political screed. There is only one scene overtly connected to the evil of racism. Yet that evil lies constantly beneath the surface as the narrative peels back one prejudice after another in Afrikaner society, using Johan's own life parable contrasted with frequent biblical references and lines from pop tunes as context. It is a tale of opposites clashing even as they move inexorably closer together into historical destiny. As a student of a broader history, I appreciate small things like one character saying to another. "your grandparents put my grandparents in concentration camps" to the one English-speaking recruit, a reminder of a time a hundred years earlier when South Africa was engaged in a violent civil war. For an audience in the 21st century unfamiliar with South African history, those kinds of comments should send people running to their Wikipedia. So this funny little movie in an oddly strange yet familiar language can be an opening to more than just an afternoon at the local cinema.

This is one of those rare gems of cinema that you don't encounter very often. I cried throughout the film. Its inedible.