2 Movies Directed by Ralph Ziman

Hearts and Minds

Hearts and Minds

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1997-01-10

Languages:

English

Countries:

South Africa

Runtime:

113 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

8.1 (3247 Reviews)

Director:

Ralph Ziman

Fullplot:

Set when the apartheid government was still in control, this powerful South African thriller is based on the true story of a policeman belonging to an elite government squad who was assigned to masquerade as a supporter and infiltrate the African National Congress so he could assassinate their leaders. Fourie is the cop, and his squadron is the most notoriously racist unit of the S.A. police force; they were infamous for donning street clothes, putting on blackface make up, and driving around in unmarked cars to kill people and cause trouble to encourage fighting amongst rival groups. Although the ANC members are initially suspicious of Fourie, eventually they accept him and send him to be trained in Lusaka, Zambia and other places. They even send him to Moscow where he learns about Marxist philosophies. By the time Fourie completes all that training the conflict has ended, Mandela is released, and his squadron has split up and melted into the general populace.

Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema

Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema

Basic Info:

Released Date:

2008-08-29

Languages:

English, Afrikaans

Countries:

South Africa

Runtime:

119 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

7.8 (9474 Reviews)

Director:

Ralph Ziman

Fullplot:

Starting off with simple smash and grabs, and petty crime, Lucky Kunene quickly graduates to more aggressive heists such as armed robbery and carjacking. Soon, Lucky realizes he needs a bigger score to fulfill his goals of making it big, and escaping from the slums, to a dream house by the sea. Kunene hatches an elaborate and violent plan to make his fortune - hijacking buildings from landlords of Johannesburg tenements by winning the favor of the tenants and then holding their rent hostage from the landowners. His high-profile real estate acquisitions attract the attention of the local police force who have no qualms about using unprovoked brutality to bring him down. His trouble with the law, coupled with an escalating war between a local drug lord, creates a tense standoff: both sides are closing in, and Kunene must stay one step ahead--or his empire, and his life, will come crashing down.

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