Didn't know anything about Die Antwoord before this. I don't particularly like their music although it does strike as being interesting and unique.
That said the visuals for this documentary are very striking and I'd probably are the main reason that would recommend watching this.
Some people seem to think this is merely a puff piece to offset the allegations made by 'Tokkie'. I don't know anything about that so cannot comment on it further. I would say that 'Ninja' looked particularly 'medicated' during the filming.
On the whole, I found this to be interesting and informative with enough artistic merit to warrant a recommendation.
ZEF: The Story of Die Antwoord
2024
Documentary
ZEF: The Story of Die Antwoord
2024
Documentary
Plot summary
South African producer / director JON DAY spent the last 5 years making a documentary about the mysterious rap-rave group, DIE ANTWOORD. Art directed by surrealist photographer, ROGER BALLEN. Narrated by NINJA & ¥O-LANDI'S daughter, 16 JONES.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
August 06, 2024 at 08:39 AM
Director
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
Good looking, informative but a puff piece.
THEY HAVE A PET LEOPARD!!
Die Antwoord are important and interesting in every way that is important. Without band like this, music would plunge into a putrid sea of mush that is modern pop music ( need I name names )..
What a joy it was to see how they came about with this very HONEST insight into their evolution.
Yes its all marketing and hype but Die Antwoord make it look fresh and interesting. Their sound is very unique, sharp and thought provoking and because they are from Cape Town, South Africa display a naked rawness which this film highlights perfectly.
Bring it on - The Answer indeed.
PS.. the W in their name is pronounced like V.
an explosion of unique artistry but they aren't telling the full story
I became utterly fascinated with Yolandi & Ninja when they released their first album. Some of their darker visuals disturbed me, but their unique vision is so uninhibited & raw that it drew me in fully.
When I heard about the allegations levelled at them by Zheani, a rapper in her own right, things changed. She came with all the receipts to expose what they were really like, and the ZEF duo responded in a cruel taunting way. Not to mention their adoptive son, Tokkie, coming out with his own disturbing experience living with them.
So here I was, ready to watch the documentary with an open mind and hear their side of all of this mess they've found themselves in. ANNNND... NOTHING. They don't make any mention of the allegations, no apology to Zheani for leaking a very revealing picture of her to the internet, nothing. (For more context, watch Zheani's THE QUESTION music video).
This documentary is a poorly executed attempt at image rehabilitation. Simple as that. They bring on Jack Black to shower them with praise, they talk about their relationship woes, they show footage of Yolandi giving birth to their daughter. But it feels so preformative. It rings hollow even when they open up and the music goes all mushy.
Now I feel like there's no going back for them. This was the moment to show remorse, to accept the fact they have harmed people along their very chaotic rise and subsequent fall of their career.
I will always admire their artistic work, their Lynchian performance art, their one of a kind musical output, all of that. But this is their last hurrah. Their image is permanently stained by their highly disturbing behaviour. God bless and keep 16.