Zainul Punjani

For a film made during the height of the Apartheid, It does a beautiful job of presenting both parties of the conflict fairly and honorably. Most war films tend to antagonize 'the enemy' to the point where they feel like cardboard cutouts for the heroes to shoot at, or boulders for them to 'Triumph over'. I found it quite difficult to root for any one side and felt sympathies for the Brits and the Zulu warriors alike. It's quite sad that a film like this would be received poorly by modern critics for its refusal to outright slander Imperialism. As the Wikipedia article put it, "By 2007 critics were divided over whether the movie should be seen as deeply anti-imperialist or as racist" as if a film like this can only be either racist or anti-imperialist, with no room for nuance or appreciation. This film is not a comment on Imperialism, but rather an exploration of War. the film poses many questions regarding the futility of war and the reasons for which nations and people decide to fight one another, leaving the audience to answer for themselves. I hope people can continue to enjoy works of Art such as Zulu and not get caught up in the senseless sectarian iconoclasm of modern-day society and can appreciate this little piece of imperfect history for it is: a tale of bravery and comradery.