Film and Video Resources About Africa examines `Subject Matter', which includes discussion on accuracy, integrity, bias in narration, over-generalization, historical completeness, and whether African perspectives are offered. It also discusses `Technical Matters' and offers some questions that should be asked on the credentials of the producers, and how to use the films in various learning contexts. In a similar vein, but with reference to specific films on Southern Africa, my own article discusses ways through which North American teachers can use films in the classroom.

Many documentary films available for teaching purposes in the United States were made prior to President FW de Klerk's dramatic political reforms begun in February 1990. This month marked the unbanning of all liberation movements, both internal and exiled, including the Communist Party. The films made prior to 1990, then, refer to apartheid in the present tense, and often encode the despair of ever being able to defeat this iniquitous system. However, films made after 1990 begin to reveal the difficulties, but also the possibilities that emerged as South Africans of all constituencies negotiated their way towards a democratic future.

Download the entire article