This is National Wake recounts the revelatory story of young musicians who dared, in 1970s South Africa, to launch a multiracial band against the backdrop of apartheid. National Wake was formed by two black brothers from Soweto and a white guitarist from Johannesburg whose collaboration broke all of apartheid's laws. The band filmed their rebellious performances on brilliant Super 8 before the government shut them down, and director Mirissa Neff uses this archival footage, along with audio interviews, to create a grainy plunge into the past. The result is an energetic feature debut that tells the immersive story of a short-lived yet remarkable countercultural attempt to fight entrenched oppression with music.
Live Q&A with Director Mirissa Neff to follow the screening.
- Runtime66 minutes
- CountryUnited States, South Africa
- DirectorMirissa Neff
This is National Wake recounts the revelatory story of young musicians who dared, in 1970s South Africa, to launch a multiracial band against the backdrop of apartheid. National Wake was formed by two black brothers from Soweto and a white guitarist from Johannesburg whose collaboration broke all of apartheid's laws. The band filmed their rebellious performances on brilliant Super 8 before the government shut them down, and director Mirissa Neff uses this archival footage, along with audio interviews, to create a grainy plunge into the past. The result is an energetic feature debut that tells the immersive story of a short-lived yet remarkable countercultural attempt to fight entrenched oppression with music.
Live Q&A with Director Mirissa Neff to follow the screening.
- Runtime66 minutes
- CountryUnited States, South Africa
- DirectorMirissa Neff