Of Good Report
{{short description|2013 film}}
{{Use South African English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Of Good Report
| image = Of Good Report poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Film poster
| director = Jahmil X.T. Qubeka
| producer =
| starring = {{unbulleted list|Mothusi Magano|Petronella Tshuma}}
| cinematography =
| editing =
| screenplay =
| studio =
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2013|8|9}}
| runtime = 109 minutes
| country = South Africa
| language = Xhosa
| gross =
}}
Of Good Report is a 2013 South African thriller film directed by Jahmil X.T. Qubeka. The film had Mothusi Magano and Petronella Tshuma in lead roles. At the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards, it received the most nominations and awards, and won the AMAA's Award for Best Film.{{Cite web |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2014-05-08-sas-of-good-report-scoops-13-africa-movie-award-nominations |title=SA's 'Of Good Report' scoops 13 Africa movie award nominations |date=8 May 2014 |access-date=18 November 2018 |archive-date=17 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117020847/https://mg.co.za/article/2014-05-08-sas-of-good-report-scoops-13-africa-movie-award-nominations/ |url-status=live }} The film was screened at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/09/tiff-2013-review-jahmil-qubekas-thriller-of-good-report-brands-him-a-director-to-watch-165205/ |title=TIFF 2013 Review: Jahmil Qubeka's Thriller 'Of Good Report' Brands Him A Director To Watch |last=Tambay |first=Obenson |date=13 September 2013 |website=Indiewire |access-date=18 November 2018 |archive-date=18 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118205809/https://www.indiewire.com/2013/09/tiff-2013-review-jahmil-qubekas-thriller-of-good-report-brands-him-a-director-to-watch-165205/ |url-status=live }}
In July 2013, on day it was to open the 34th Durban International Film Festival, it was banned by the National Film and Video Foundation for containing "child pornography". The decision was later overturned after an appeal by the producers of the film.{{Cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/21/world/africa/of-good-report-movie-ban/index.html |title=Of Good Report: The serial killer movie they tried to ban |date=21 August 2013 |website=CNN |access-date=18 November 2018 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101205724/https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/21/world/africa/of-good-report-movie-ban/index.html |url-status=live }} In November 2022, Of Good Report opened the Africa Rising International Film Festival (ARIFF) and given "the premier it never had{{Cite web |last=World |first=Sunday |date=2022-11-25 |title='ARIFF pays homage to past in the present for the future' |url=https://sundayworld.co.za/ziwaphi/ariff-pays-homage-to-past-in-the-present-for-the-future/ |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=Sunday World |language=en-ZA}}".
Cast
- Mothusi Magano as Parker Sithole
- Petronella Tshuma as Nolitha Ngubane
- Tshamano Sebe as Vuyani
- Lee-Ann Van Rooi as Const. Arendse
- Tina Jaxa as Headmistress
- Thobi Mkhwanazi as Squeeza
- Nomhle Nkonyeni as Landlady
- Lihlebo Magugu as Sipho
- Frances Ndlazilwana as Grandmother
- Mary Twala as Esther Sithole
Plot
The film tells a story of an inappropriate and obsessive romantic relationship between a high school teacher and one of his female student.{{Cite web |url=https://africasacountry.com/2013/08/whats-the-politics-of-the-briefly-banned-film-of-good-report |title=What are the politics of the briefly banned film "Of Good Report"? |last=Levenson |first=Zachary |date=19 August 2013 |publisher=Africa is a Country |access-date=18 November 2022 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101205757/https://africasacountry.com/2013/08/whats-the-politics-of-the-briefly-banned-film-of-good-report |url-status=live }}
Reception
= Reviews =
Guy Lodge for Variety praised the attempt by Qubeka in the script that captures concerns of post apartheid South Africa that is not based on racial segregation, but violence and patriarchal sexuality. The adoption of black and white sequence of images, as opposed to coloured was also highlighted as adding a positive uniqueness to the film. He summarized its review by stating "Jahmil X.T. Qubeka's striking but grisly feature swerves wildly from obsessive student-teacher romance into splattery horror."{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/global/of-good-report-review-1200798187/ |title=Film Review: 'Of Good Report' |last=Lodge |first=Guy |newspaper=Variety |date=5 November 2013 |access-date=18 November 2022 |archive-date=19 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819002058/https://variety.com/2013/film/global/of-good-report-review-1200798187/ |url-status=live }}
Peter Bradshaw for The Guardian rated it 4/5, applauding the story, linearity and the entire atmosphere of the film.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/14/of-good-report-london-film-festival-review |title=Of Good Report – London film festival review |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=14 October 2013 |website=Guardian |access-date=18 November 2018 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101205810/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/14/of-good-report-london-film-festival-review |url-status=live }} Deborah Young for Hollywood Reporter explained "Qubeka's unconventional talent makes sparks fly in a raw thriller that gently mocks genre and leaves a troubling after-taste".{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/good-report-hong-kong-review-694265 |title=Of Good Report: Hong Kong Review |last=Deborah |first=Young |date=7 July 2014 |website=Hollywood Reporter |access-date=22 November 2018 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101205829/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/good-report-hong-kong-review-694265 |url-status=live }}
= Accolades =
- Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Film (won)
- Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Director (won)
- Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor (won)
- Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
- Africa Movie Academy Award for Most Promising Actor (won)
- Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Screenplay (won)
- Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Editing
- Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Cinematography
- Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Sound
- Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
- Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Soundtrack
- Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Production Design
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|2736074}}
{{Best Feature Film at the Africa International Film Festival|state=expanded}}
{{SAFTA Award for Best Feature Film}}
Category:South African romantic thriller films