Watch The Bang Bang Club

The Bang Bang Club is a 2010 drama film based on a true story about four photojournalists who risked their lives to capture the atrocities of the Apartheid era in South Africa during the early 1990s. The movie is directed by Steven Silver and stars Ryan Phillippe as Greg Marinovich, Malin Akerman as Robin Comley, and Taylor Kitsch as Kevin Carter.

The film takes place during a time of political turmoil in South Africa when Nelson Mandela is about to be released from prison, and the country seems to be on the brink of change. The Bang Bang Club, as they were called, consisted of four photographers – Marinovich, Carter, Comley, and Ken Oosterbroek (played by Frank Rautenbach) – who worked for newspapers and magazines like The New York Times and Newsweek.

The story follows the journey of these four photojournalists as they document the violence and injustice taking place in the townships of Johannesburg and other parts of the country. Their work earned them international fame, but their success came at a high cost as they risked their lives every day to capture the emotional and sometimes graphic images that became iconic symbols of the Apartheid era.

Marinovich and Carter, in particular, captured some of the most memorable images, including the photograph of a starving Sudanese child being stalked by a vulture that would later win Carter a Pulitzer Prize. However, the film also touches on the psychological toll that their work took on them, as they struggled with ethical questions and the constant danger they faced.

The movie is a tribute to the courage and bravery of these four journalists who became friends and colleagues during a time when tensions were high in South Africa. It shows how they used their cameras to expose the truth about a government that was suppressing the rights of its citizens and how they stood up to authority when the whole world was watching.

The film is shot using hand-held cameras, creating a gritty, documentary-style look and feel that makes the action feel realistic and intense. The soundtrack also reflects the turbulent nature of the time, featuring music from artists such as U2, The Cranberries, and Bruce Springsteen.

The Bang Bang Club is an emotional rollercoaster that shows the highs and lows of photojournalism, including the adrenaline rush of being in the thick of a story, as well as the emotional breakdowns and post-traumatic stress that can come from witnessing and documenting so much violence and injustice. It is an intense and powerful story that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

In conclusion, The Bang Bang Club is a must-see movie for anyone interested in photojournalism, human rights, or South African history. It is a tribute to the bravery and courage of the photojournalists who risked their lives to capture the truth about Apartheid-era South Africa, and it is a powerful reminder of why a free press is so important in our world today.

The Bang Bang Club is a 2010 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 48.