A hilarious and whacky comedy ? it says a lot. This movie is a cult classic and belongs with "Harold and Maude" and "King of Hearts" in this category.

In its own crazy way it tells us all kinds of things about people, simple and complicated, the way life might be, and, indeed, the way it is. Clearly Jamie Uys is a genius, to put such disparate material together in such a complex crazy plot, and have it all make sense.

People looking for technical accuracy will not like this movie. It is not at all realistic in that sense. And while the movie is largely a series of clichés - it works.

For example ? in the scene where (the clumsy) Steyn takes off to the schoolhouse to try to apologize to Ms. Thompson and (bring back her shoes) - His companion gives him this advice:

"... You gotta smile, man, and tell her she looks good"

Steyn: How come suddenly you're an expert on women?

Companion: I got 7 wives - how many you got?

Steyn: So what have you done with your 7 wives?

Companion: I know how to marry them; nobody knows how to live with them

Steyn: So why did you marry them?

Companion: Shee Shee! Someday I have to tell you the facts of life"

AND . . . the biggest cliché in the movie: "I don't want to talk about it."

****

"The Gods Must be Crazy" is a sweet, charming and hilarious movie ? it took me 20 years to get to see it, and am I glad I did. This is one I will add to my collection of the movies already mentioned.

A hilarious and whacky comedy ? it says a lot. This movie is a cult classic and belongs with "Harold and Maude" and "King of Hearts" in this category.

In its own crazy way it tells us all kinds of things about people, simple and complicated, the way life might be, and, indeed, the way it is. Clearly Jamie Uys is a genius, to put such disparate material together in such a complex crazy plot, and have it all make sense.

People looking for technical accuracy will not like this movie. It is not at all realistic in that sense. And while the movie is largely a series of clichés - it works.

For example ? in the scene where (the clumsy) Steyn takes off to the schoolhouse to try to apologize to Ms. Thompson and (bring back her shoes) - His companion gives him this advice:

"... You gotta smile, man, and tell her she looks good"

Steyn: How come suddenly you're an expert on women?

Companion: I got 7 wives - how many you got?

Steyn: So what have you done with your 7 wives?

Companion: I know how to marry them; nobody knows how to live with them

Steyn: So why did you marry them?

Companion: Shee Shee! Someday I have to tell you the facts of life"

AND . . . the biggest cliché in the movie: "I don't want to talk about it."

****

"The Gods Must be Crazy" is a sweet, charming and hilarious movie ? it took me 20 years to get to see it, and am I glad I did. This is one I will add to my collection of the movies already mentioned.

This comedy contains 3 intertwined stories: first the quest of one Bushman of the Kalahari, a second is an almost romance between a schoolteacher and a woman-shy researcher, and the third involves a pursued flight by a small group of rebels.

Eventually, all the threads interact, unite, and gain resolution. Along the way, there is some slapstick reminiscent to me of some of the Laurel & Hardy sight gags (maybe with a touch of the 3 Stooges?).

Of most interest to me is the view it gives us of the Bushmen (they're also known as the Dobe San, the Dobe !Kung, and/or the !Kung). This is a romantic, idealized, somewhat fairy tale view of these great people, more true probably in the first 2/3rds of the 20th century than later. No !Kung now live without contact with the outside world and few or none now live as was depicted. But, although it's a caricature, nevertheless it's still a useful, somewhat truthful one which captures much of this people's former beauty and essence.

The "!" in the name !Kung comes because these people speak in a "click" dialect and the movie gives us many samples of its unusual sounds.

The !Kung are a people who were driven into the Kalahari about 500 years ago by the encroachment of other tribes. Much like Pygmies, the !Kung are short in stature (but not quite as much) and rather than black, they're usually considered "Negrito" and somewhat yellowish skinned if I remember correctly.

I'd seen this film years ago and enjoyed it particularly for its view of the !Kung. I recently rented it to loan to a couple of university students going to South Africa on a concert tour since they may get a glimpse of the Kalahari.

Very enjoyable.