Authenticity

Rating: 9/10 (13 December 2007)

One of the reasons that this film looks so good is that the Zulus themselves were recruited to play their forebears, while the rank and file of the British troops were played by South African soldiers, which explains the military precision of both sides. This raises the intriguing thought as to just how such a film could have been made in apartheid South Africa. Apart from being a wonderful 'action film' it is satisfying to see the Zulus portrayed as equally brave warriors. There are few moments in cinematography history to equal the scene where the Redcoats singing Men of Harlech is intercut with the Zulus war chant/battle song. The way that this leads into the most ferocious and final battle is spine tingling