Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema

Original title: Jerusalema

2008
R
1h 59m

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

11K

YOUR RATING

An unflinching look into the crime, corruption and the transgressions of those looking to survive in the most crime-infested district of Johannesburg.

Play trailer1:21

1 Video

21 Photos

Action Crime Drama

A young hoodlum's rise from a small-time criminal to a powerful crime entrepreneur during the turbulent years before and after the fall of apartheid.A young hoodlum's rise from a small-time criminal to a powerful crime entrepreneur during the turbulent years before and after the fall of apartheid.A young hoodlum's rise from a small-time criminal to a powerful crime entrepreneur during the turbulent years before and after the fall of apartheid.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

11K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 6 wins & 1 nomination total

Videos1

Trailer 1:21

Jerusalema

Photos20

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Storyline

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Trivia
The budget was so low on the film that old cameras were used as were skateboards in place of dollies.

Goofs
When Kunene is on the beach in Durban at the end of the movie, the tracks made by the film crews vehicles are clearly visible.

Soundtracks
Nkosi Sikelele Afrika
Written by Enoch Sontonga
Performed by the Soweto Gospel Choir

User reviews35

Featured review

9/10

An African Renaissance in Cinema

Saw Jerusalema last weekend. I found the film to be an engaging, moving, and important reminder that the strangest worlds are right under our noses. Fast paced, gritty and in your face

I loved Rapulana Simpiwe in the lead, a stunning young talent, Jafta Mamabolo who played the young Kunene is fantastic.

The script is excellent, reassuringly tight and Carried me effortlessly through the journey.

This is the story of how a intelligent kid with the same hopes and dreams as anyone else; an education, work hard, get a degree and live his dreams through legitimate means, succumbs, despite himself, to a life of crime because it is his only course available.

It accurately portrays the universal genesis of crime and loss of innocence and righteousness (the symbol of which of course was the mother with her hand pressed tightly on her bible).

I don't know what's happening with the film in terms of its international release, but I would sincerely hope that many others will have the memorable experience that we did.