Zulu

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Zulu
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Zulu is an epic British war movie based on the true story of the 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift, in which 150 British soldiers defended a camp against 4,000 Zulu warriors. The movie features a long, intense siege with big, bloody battles. The blood is bright red and unrealistic but many people are shown shot and speared, and battlefields are strewn with corpses. The movie features arrogant British military men -- including Michael Caine's Lieutenant Bromhead -- who call the Zulu people "savages" and other racial slurs, believing the British to be superior. Other characters balance this out, showing respect toward the Zulu people and warning others of their might and intelligence in battle. The only female character, Margareta Witt (Ulla Jacobsson), defies authority and cares for injured soldiers, despite one's aggressive sexual advances. The bare breasts of Zulu women are shown, with them in traditional ceremonial dress. Infrequent language includes "bastard" and "bloody." Soldiers show determination and bravery to help others despite their own injuries and their desperate circumstances. Both sides show respect toward each other, something which has been criticized for whitewashing imperialist rule.
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What's the Story?
ZULU tells the story of how 150 British soldiers, led by John Chard (Stanley Baker) and Gonville Bromhead (Michael Caine), defended a missionary station against 4,000 highly-organized Zulu warriors.
Is It Any Good?
For a nail biting war movie, 150 soldiers defending against 4,000 expert warriors is a perfect set-up. That Zulu is based on a true story from the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879 adds even more heft. It's also gorgeously shot in Technicolor, with the British red uniforms in stark contrast to the gigantic blue sky of South Africa and its mountain vistas. Released in 1963 onto huge screens on pristine 70mm film, the movie has suffered over the decades, rarely seen outside of TV broadcasts and grainy VHS tapes. Now it can be seen at home in high definition, the true spectacle of Stephen Dade's cinematography can be appreciated once more.
Director Cy Endfield takes his time to let the audience settle in with both sides. We spend time at an equally thrilling and graceful Zulu ceremony, attended by Reverend Otto Witt (Jack Hawkins). At the British missionary camp, we get to know the key players. Caine's breakthrough performance came as the stuffy, by-the-book Lieutenant Bromhead, who ignores Witt's warning to retreat, believing the British superior to his enemies, who he calls "savages." Zulu's not jingoistic, with Endfield ensuring there is a voice of reason at every turn and doesn't shy away from the losses suffered on both sides. But this is just a cinematic snapshot of the Colonial-era British invasion of South Africa. The British army went on to win the war, resulting in the death of 6,930 Zulu people and leaving 3,500 more injured. The ethics of this can spark plenty of discussion.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how war was portrayed in Zulu. Was it a realistic portrayal? Did you know about the Anglo-Zulu War before you watched the film? Are you interested to find out more? How to talk to kids about violence, crime, and war.
Did you find the movie's violence realistic? How did the impact of this kind of violence compare to what you might see in movies today? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Discuss some of the racist language used in the film. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
What examples of courage, perseverance, and teamwork can you provide from the film? Can you think of a time when you've demonstrated these character strengths?
Is it important to know how truthful a historical movie actually is? How would you find out about a film's accuracy? Do you favor more authenticity or a "better" story?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 17, 1964
- On DVD or streaming: September 11, 2001
- Cast: Michael Caine, Jack Hawkins
- Director: Cy Endfield
- Studio: Embassy Pictures
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: History
- Character Strengths: Courage, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Run time: 138 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: December 21, 2022
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