Comments on: The Swenkas

By: Ralf Dudat

Ralf Dudat — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:22:36 +0000

Hey I come from the lower working class myself, and I can relate to the aspirations of the Swenkas.
When I dress up on a Saturday night in my best clothes, I feel proud and full of hope ….. a world away from the dirty and dangerous work I must do during the week.

By: david

david — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:51:47 +0000

just saw the film last night. i really enjoyed it. i won’t be surprised if swanking becomes the new “voguing.” can madonna be far behind?

the director made a strong choice about the music, which worked for me. that said, other (local) music might well have worked, too. different strokes.

an inspirational film, definitely worth checking out.

By: David M. Strayhorn, Sr.

David M. Strayhorn, Sr. — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 08:02:34 +0000

I simply enjoyed the film. As an black American man, these men validate the pride of many black men who express respect, self love, dignity and swank externally from the internal source. Simply another creative dimension of the spirit and hope of black people arising out of their earthly condition. Swanking should become international.

By: anna

anna — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 01:48:20 +0000

I have seen the film twice on television and I wish someone would start to make it a tradition to follow, with the young people of Europe. No matter what music. Just the scence of belonging, and being proud of who you are, that is so sadly missed with many people today. There should be more Swenkas in this world.

By: Jess Ag

Jess Ag — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 17:43:12 +0000

Excellent film!!!, Congratulations!!

By: james

james — Sat, 25 Jun 2005 06:44:00 +0000

I can understand your perspective, Dovis. Someone at the screening actually made a similar comment to the director. His answer made sense to me, though. The men actually do their “swenking” with NO musical accompaniment. The director added the “jazzy” music simply to call to mind the sort of era of the “sharp dressed man” that most of the audience members would relate to. So yes, perhaps he is only trying to “pass muster” with a European audience. Frankly, using Zulu music wouldn’t have been appropriate, in my opinion, unless it was perhaps something from Sophiatown in the 50s, as you mentioned.

Thanks for your comment!

By: Dovis Miller

Dovis Miller — Sat, 25 Jun 2005 00:02:51 +0000

What spoiled the film, the Swenkas, was the music; it couldn’t have been more inappropriate. The Zulu music tradition is one of the richest in the world, and what does this film use as a background? Shmaltzy violins and a piano. Perhaps the music editor has never visited Zululand, but some members of the production team – at a minimum the film crew and director – must have. So this will certainly raise questions about the professionalism and gravitas of the producer/director – although I’m sure no one on the team ever intended the film be disrespectful either to an educated audience or to the culture being portrayed.

The sound track, as is, should be totally scrapped, and indigenous music should be mixed in with the original dialog/recording. As for trying to convey the ‘dapper’ image of the Svenkas, there’s a whole host of musical styles the producers could mine that would be appropriate. The ‘Sophiatown’ sound of the 1950’s produced many recordings in Johannesburg that paralled the Bing Cosby cooner sound of the U.S. Mahlatini, a Zulu through and through, was almost singlehandedly responsible for Mpaqhanga – the dominant music form in South Africa in the 1960’s and 70’s – which often playfully dealt with social trends. Even Kwaito, which is a noisy combination of house, hip-hop and indigenous styles must have appropriate stuff to offer.

The director/producer should do his homework and request from black South African DJs, old-time record producers etc, music that both stylewise and lyrically would be appropriate. Perhaps the film passes the muster of an audience in Europe, but for anyone who knows anything about Zulu culture, this film jars no less than would a South African film about modern Vikings that had an Arabic sound track.