Don’t Let’s go to the dogs tonight (12A) |Close-Up Film Review
Dir: Embeth Davidtz, South Africa, 2024, 99 mins, English/Shona with subtitles
Cast: Embeth Davidtz, Lexi Venter, Zikhona Bali, Anina Reed
Review by Carol Allen
The time is 1980, the end of the Zimbabwean war of independence. After years of guerilla war, the white population are fearful of the outcome of the election. The story is told from the point of view of 8 year old Bobo (Lexi Venter). The adults – her mother Nicola (Davidtx) and her father Tim (Rob van Vuuren) tell her that any African can be a terrorist. Tim goes out on patrols with other white men, all armed to the teeth, while the bi-polar Nicola is in bed with a gun and a hangover. Yet Bobo loves her sometimes strict but caring black nanny Sarah (Zikhona Bali).
Venter as Bobo is terrific from the very first shot. Left to run wild around the countryside on her mini motor bike, the only person trying to keep her in order is Sarah. Bobo with a child’s innocent and honest perception is taking it all in and trying to make sense of a very complicated adult world. Her dad often ignores her, her mother is suffering from depression, addicted to alcohol and passionate to the point of madness about keeping their farm out of the hands of the Africans. “I’m African”, says Bobo. “No, you’re not”, is the reply. Meanwhile her elder sister Vanessa (Reed) is trying to deal with the complexities of adolescence in an already over complex world.
Also conflicted is Sarah, torn two ways between the white child she loves and her husband Jacob (Shilubana N Fumani, who resents the white family they work for and is also fearful for is wife’s safety.
No reflection on the male actors but this is very much a female led story with terrific performances from the actresses, particularly young Venter and an impressive directing debut from Davidtz.
Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight is currently in cinemas
