After presenting the film to various restricted audiences in Namibia, AfricAvenir and the FNCC invite to another screening of Miners Shot Down (South Africa, 2014, 85 min, directed by Rehad Desai), on 9 July, 18h30, at the FNCC, Windhoek<\/b>. Entrance 20,- N$. The entrance fee and a collection will be made available to the widows and survivors of the strike. One of the highlights of this year\u2019s South Africa Pavilion at Cannes! <\/p>\n
Co-funded by the NFVF and the DTI, this South African documentary by Rehad Desai is like nothing you have ever seen before. The film is a blistering criticism of the government\u2019s deadly response to striking miners in Marikana in 2012. The story made headlines worldwide, and the commission of inquiry is ongoing.<\/p>\n
In August 2012, mineworkers in one of South Africa\u2019s biggest platinum mines began a wildcat strike for better wages. Six days later, the police used live ammunition to brutally suppress the strike, killing 34 and injuring many more. the POV of the Marikana miners, Miners Shot Down, follows the strike at one of South Africa\u2019s platinum mines from day one, showing the courageous but isolated fight waged by a group of low paid workers<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to go for a very fresh look,\u201d declares Carla Dias of South Africa\u2019s National Film and Video Foundation in a Variety interview regarding the presentation of South African films in Cannes. Dias says Miners Shot Down reflects the growing spirit and conviction of South African filmmakers who are \u201cnot worried about criticizing our own government.\u201d \u201cThey\u2019re not scared to tell (this story),\u201d she says. <\/i>n\u201cLook how far we\u2019ve come and we can still make films like this,\u2019\u201d says Dias. \u201cThat for me is freedom.\u201d<\/i>n