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.[1] The film was screened at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.[2]

Of Good Report
Film poster
Directed byJahmil X.T. Qubeka
Starring
Release date
  • 9 August 2013 (2013-08-09)
Running time
109 minutes
CountrySouth Africa
LanguageXhosa

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.[3] In November 2022, Of Good Report opened the Africa Rising International Film Festival (ARIFF) and given "the premier it never had[4]".

Cast

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Plot

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The film tells a story of an inappropriate and obsessive romantic relationship between a high school teacher and one of his female student.[5]

Reception

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Reviews

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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."[6]

Peter Bradshaw for The Guardian rated it 4/5, applauding the story, linearity and the entire atmosphere of the film.[7] 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".[8]

Accolades

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References

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  1. ^ "SA's 'Of Good Report' scoops 13 Africa movie award nominations". 8 May 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  2. ^ Tambay, Obenson (13 September 2013). "TIFF 2013 Review: Jahmil Qubeka's Thriller 'Of Good Report' Brands Him A Director To Watch". Indiewire. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Of Good Report: The serial killer movie they tried to ban". CNN. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  4. ^ World, Sunday (25 November 2022). "'ARIFF pays homage to past in the present for the future'". Sunday World. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  5. ^ Levenson, Zachary (19 August 2013). "What are the politics of the briefly banned film "Of Good Report"?". Africa is a Country. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  6. ^ Lodge, Guy (5 November 2013). "Film Review: 'Of Good Report'". Variety. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  7. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (14 October 2013). "Of Good Report – London film festival review". Guardian. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  8. ^ Deborah, Young (7 July 2014). "Of Good Report: Hong Kong Review". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
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