Take the totality of opportunities to read social commentary into the film, and you could write a book. War, problematic race relations and cultural imperialism are all legacies implicitly present. Even further, add the setting which is Africa. But to somehow fit heart and genuine pathos into this convoluted whole is a testament to director Harmony Korine. As performance, a filmic space for two weird entertainers to function, it is likewise a success, with Ninja’s “big-bong schlong” freestyles and Yo-Landi’s insane dolphin calls being uproarious.
The comedy is most easily apparent, what with the pajama outfits and wheelchairs, spoofing Natural Born Killers-style spree films in a way that jives perfectly with the outsized internet-personas of the performers Die Antwoord-ridiculous, and yet somehow still maintaining an edge. “It’s a clichéd anecdote to make, but Umshini Wam works on multiple different levels, and as such is one the most perfect collaborations yet seen between artists in the short film realm. Update: Winner of “Best Live-Action” at the 2012 Short of the Week Awards. I have no idea what to expect, it could be brilliant, or unwatchable, though I doubt it will be anything inbetween. The second one I’ll write up later today, but first I want to point you to this 16 min collaboration between the class clowns of the music world, Die Antwoord, and l’enfant terrible of the art-film world, Trash Humpers director Harmony Korine. Directed by frontman Ninja, the clip finds the MC done up in some grotesque. Two really high profile shorts that had their worldwide debut at SXSW are already online. The absurdity of South African zef ambassadors Die Antwoord reaches new levels in the video for Pitbull Terrier.
This is a good day for online short film.
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