As she was softly singing away at her desk recently, a South African work colleague of mine lent over to me and said, ‘in South Africa everyone sings’. Her comment is well and truly borne out in Australian filmmaker Michael Davie’s documentary ‘The Choir’ which is about the power of music to lift the spirits of prisoners doing time in South African jails.
Davie’s film hones in on a group of prisoners based in Leeukwop prison, South Africa’s largest prison, who form a choir to make life more bearable in prison. Their choir leader, long termer Coleman, is wildly enthusiastic as well as being a strict disciplinarian. Coleman instills commitment and enthusiasm in his men and soon he has made them into a good unit. Coleman enters his boys into the National Prison Choir competition and is determined that they will win.
This doco has an intoxicating mix. The main ingredients are the charisma of some of its characters especially that of ex bank robber now master choir leader, Coleman, the great build up in tension as ‘The Choir’ prepare for the big finale with plenty of highs and lows, the colour of the finale itself, and of-course the pulsating African music soundtrack.
The result is an outstanding and inspiring documentary. Highly recommended.
