Silverton Siege Review: Between Action and General Culture Drama Now On Netflix

Starring: Thabo Rametsi, Arnold Vosloo, Noxolo Dlamini

Director: Mandla Dube

Streaming Platform: Netflix (click to watch)

Filmyhype.com Ratings: 3/5 (three star)

Silverton Siege Review: What is the price you would put on your freedom? This is the question that arises when watching Silverton Siege, the new social drama, directed by director Mandla Dube, which you can find on Netflix from April 27, 2022. The publication date of the film, however, is not a random choice: it is, in fact, a considered programming, as on this day we celebrate the International Freedom Day, or Freedom Day for the liberation from South Africa apartheid and the date of the first free elections, in 1994.

Silverton Siege Review: The Story

Silverton Siege takes place in 1980 in Silverton, an eastern suburb of Pretoria in South Africa, and tells the story of three members of the MK, an armed division of the African National Congress that has already been in operation for some time, which has the mission to sabotage an oil depot. The rebels, however, do not know that this mission is put at risk by a police informer, who plays a double game within their group: the three members then, hunted down by the agents, attempt a daring and bloody escape, and then find yourself inside a bank.

At this point, as there are no other ways out, the three protagonists decide to barricade themselves inside the building, holding hostage all the people who were inside the bank at the time of the siege. When they understand that they have no alternative, being surrounded by police officers, other than that of being arrested and imprisoned or of death, they decide to turn their siege into a social movement, making demands, including the release of Nelson Mandela. 

Will the three protagonists be able to guess who is the mole among them and to ensure that their causes stir the interest of the whole society in this cause of great social importance? Obviously, in order not to spoil you, we will not reveal it to you, but we strongly recommend watching this film for the important issues and because Silverton Siege is inspired by events that really happened in the past that result in racial problems and which are still today current, albeit minimally compared to the 1980s.

Silverton Siege Review And Analysis

Dube’s film, as specified in the previous paragraph, is a product with dramatic, action and social background features, as it narrates facts and events that really happened in 1980. In its 101-minute duration, the viewer is teased by the multiple scenes of clashes at fire alternating with important moments of reflection on freedom and the high price to pay in order to obtain it. All this is supported by an excellent photography with vintage shades, it is no coincidence that the director is also director of photography in other films, and by a not too frenetic pace that speeds up in the most action scenes and that calms down, instead, in those scenes aimed at reflecting on the social issues that this film offers.

Speaking of the action scenes, however, everything is quite chaotic , as if they were elusive scenes: the plot of Silverton Siege is developed in a really interesting way but which lacks in depth on the events, perhaps due to a writing much more interpretative and that does not perfectly reflect the events that really happened. A special mention goes to the interpretation of the main cast: Thabo Rametsi, Noxolo Dlamini and Stefan Erasmus in the role of the three protagonists managed to communicate through their strong expressiveness the drama they were going through, moreover, also the interpretation of Arnold Vosloo, who you will remember in the role of Imhotepin 1999’s La Mummia, it is particularly suggestive.

In Silverton Siege, there are some twists that clarify the plot and the events that the protagonists are experiencing but which at the same time are not of vital importance in supporting the film, as it is supported independently thanks to the strong themes social and moral present, fulcrum of the whole film, such as emphasizing racial discrimination related to that period, the struggle for justice and for the individual freedom of a people who were often judged only for the aesthetic aspect and for the color of their skin , the cost of freedom and the price to pay to get it and the theme of liberation movement of a character who has changed the fortunes of many populations. In short, if technically there is some flaw in the staging and writing of the film, Silverton Siege shines mostly for the topics addressed, aimed at sensitizing the viewer with that political-social touch that in this genre of film is not simple to stage.

Silverton Siege tends to make us reflect on the question: what is the price to pay to be free? The events narrated in this film are inspired by three members of the MK that really existed, namely, Wilfred Mandela, Humphrey Makhubu and Stephen Mafoko, the trio that in the 80s started Nelson Mandela’s liberation campaign, released on 11 February. 1990, later becoming the first black president of South Africa.

The review of this film, however, was divided in two, this is because many appreciated the staging of themes with a very heavy and difficult to realize historicity and baggage, while other spectators did not like the reinterpretation of some facts, fearing to going to damage the social impact that those events have brought to society. Surely, however, Silverton Siege is a film that needs to be seen even just to be able to enrich one’s cultural background or, why not, even just to deepen issues about which too little is still spoken, even if years and years have passed evolution of society has reached a turning point and acceptance of the different.

Silverton Siege Review: The Last Words

In conclusion, we recommend watching Silverton Siege for many reasons, also because it is always very interesting to see transpositions of real events in a cinematic film. We also remind you that you can find this product from April 27, 2022 in the Netflix catalog along with all the news on the platform.