Sunday 5 December 2021

Zulu Cancelled

 
Considered one of the greatest British films of all time, Cy Enfield's 1964 epic Zulu relates the Battle of Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879. A mere hundred and fifty British soldiers, many of whom where sick in a field hospital, held back a Zulu army of many thousands. This engagement came just hours after Zulus destroyed the British base at Isandlwana, as told in the 1979 prequel Zulu Dawn. The film is renowned for its smooth acting and expert chorography. It is also the big screen debut for Michael Caine who went on to become one of the world's most iconic actors; and also Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi who went on to become a successful politician. In the film he plays his own great-grandfather, King Cetshwayo kaMpande. I was astonished and disgusted, but then again maybe I shouldn't have been astonished, when I saw that this classic movie had been listed for disposal by the wokeist movement. Their objections are the kind that these days almost write themselves. They claim it has "racist overtones" which could have a "negative effect on relationships" within Britain's "changing and richly diverse communities". Source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/979715/zulu-snowflakes-campaigners-michael-caine-racist-politicial-correctness-gone-mad. Firstly, I couldn't give a damn even if that were true. People should still be allowed to watch it. Secondly, it's not true. The film portrays the Zulu warriors in a very respectful manner. They are brave, honourable and cunning tacticians. In the dramatic final scene of the battle, the Zulus line up to sing and dance. The British think this is a prelude to another attack, but in fact the Zulus have given up; and they are saluting their enemies for being great warriors. Zulu is a unique war film with no good guys and bad guys; just good guys. I don't care if it is historically inaccurate. The message of the story is that you can get into conflict with others, even very violent conflict; and yet not lose your humanity. It's a wonderfully positive theme. However wokeists are so anti-intellectual that they can only think in one dimension. They just see white people fighting black people and yell "racism!" almost as a reflex. Of all the excesses of wokeism, this is surely the most ridiculous. I'm pleased to say that the screening of the film in Folkestone was not cancelled. The local people and the charity stood up to those idiotic snowflakes. We need to see more of that kind of resistance.
See here for background: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2021/05/rhodes-will-stay.html.
And: http://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2021/08/political-correctness-portal.html.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Blimey! Bet they'll do the same with Carry On Up The Khyber next!!!

GlowTone

Ben Emlyn-Jones said...

True, Glowtone. You certainly don't see those films on TV like you used to.

Unknown said...

Best film ever I must have watched it about ten times sorry I put ten down because I can't spell twenty

Ben Emlyn-Jones said...

LOL. After a few times you lose count. Yes, it's beyond classic. It would be a crime to ban it.