A particularly Pretorian political economy: Phoenix Films' Pretorian cinematic imaginary. (1st April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Broodryk, Chris
• Is Part Of: Journal of African cinemas. Volume 10:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 131
• Page End: 145
• Publication Date: 2018-04-01
• Subjects: Motion pictures -- Africa -- Periodicals; Africa -- In motion pictures -- Periodicals; 791.4309605
• DOI: 10.1386/jac.10.1-2.131_1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1754-923X

Abstract

This article explores the spatial homogeneity of Darrell Roodt's films Trouvoete (Roodt, 2015) and Mignon 'Mossie' Van Wyk (Roodt, 2016). These films conflate representations of safe, suburban city spaces in Johannesburg and Pretoria to create the impression that these city spaces – free from explicit political signification – are visually and ideologically interchangeable. To arrive at this explanation, the article discusses the Centurion-based production company Phoenix Films, and how the branding (or product placement) contributes towards the superficial smoothness of the films' city spaces.