Die Swart Draak ontwaak: Karate and Kill Bill on the Cape Flats
The first martial arts film in Afrikaaps will debut at the 11th kykNET Silwerskerm Film Festival. Lee Roodt, a former Springbok in karate and kickboxing, plays the lead role in Die Swart Draak ontwaak. He also wrote the script of this thrilling short film and is responsible for the fight scene choreography.
Creating an action film on a minuscule budget requires precision planning – especially when the film can be shot over a couple of days only, the cast comprises mostly non-actors, and the film is packed with dangerous Muay Thai and traditional martial arts stunts.
“To top it off, all the action scenes must be executed dynamically from a martial arts and filmatic perspective,” Annemarie du Plessis, Die Swart Draak ontwaak’s producer, explains.
Even though making such an action-packed film is hugely challenging, Die Swart Draak ontwaak is a dream come true for Lee and cinematographer Johannes Pieter Nel. While still in school, Johannes borrowed the library teacher’s camera to make kung fu videos. His tripods were garbage bins. Lee’s wish to become South Africa’s very own Bruce Lee was sparked at age six, seeing the world’s legendary “Little Dragon” on television. So, he joined a martial arts class and started practising katas.
As an actor, Lee has appeared in several soaps and even portrayed a notorious drug cartel boss in the international documentary Locked Up Abroad. Besides earning his Springbok colours, Lee is also a 2nd Dan Black Belt in W.A.K.O. and was named the Junior Karate Fighter of the Year in 1997.
To facilitate the rapid-speed filming necessary for Die Swart Draak ontwaak, Lee and Johannes pulled the cast in for many intense rehearsals. Another trick up their sleeve was deliberately using trained martial arts fighters instead of actors. For example, it was easy for Burhaan and Taariq Jardine, father and son in real life and in the short film, to master the choreography.
While classic video games like Street Fighter 2 influenced the style, there is unmistakably a tinge of Tarantino in this short film shot on the Cape Flats.
“I was a Tarantino fanboy when I studied film, and the editing and camerawork give it away,” Johannes admits.
“It’s definitely also in the music,” Lee adds. “It’s spaghetti Western vibes, but instead of a tumbleweed in the street, you’ll see a packet of NikNaks.”
And then there’s the yellow tracksuit worn by Lee’s character, Clifford. Remember the yellow outfit of The Bride in Tarantino’s Kill Bill?
Die Swart Draak ontwaak is screened at the festival on Thursday, 24 August. You’ll also find it on kykNET and Showmax later this year.