South Africa has a lot to offer international filmmakers in terms of tax incentives
and rebates, and with producers always on the lookout for ways to get more bang
for their budgeted buck; the plummeting Rand value gives them just that. Added to
this is the country’s diverse scenery which allows movie makers access to an
extraordinary range of locations. But in speaking with French director Jerome Salle,
who spent almost a year in the country shooting the gritty crime thriller City of
Violence, it’s clear that there is a certain je ne sais quoi the country has to offer,
over and above its economic standing and geographic features.
Originally titled Zulu and based on the novel by Caryl Ferey, City of Violence is set
in Cape Town where two policemen hunt for a killer. In their quest for justice, they
are confronted with unadulterated violence, conspiracies, their own demons and the
concept of forgiveness.
Hollywood heavyweights Orlando Bloom and Forrest Whitaker star among a cast of
South Africans, convincing even the most discerning viewer they are born and bred
locals. Much of this realistic portrayal can be attributed to Salle’s immersive
directorial approach and demand for cultural accuracy.
“In my first trip I spent three weeks here and I had the feeling it was a great place
to shoot. More importantly I had the feeling that being a foreigner could make
things easier,’ he recalls.
Foreign territory
After initially reading the novel, Salle wasn’t sure he was cut out to tell a South
African story, especially one in which the country itself features as a character. But
after connecting with the universal theme of forgiveness, and being granted a ticket
to South Africa to conduct research with no set return date, he felt confident he
could do the story justice. Salle admits that being an outsider actually helped him
collect the valuable insight he needed to keep the story authentic.
“When you talk to people here being white or coloured or black is a factor. You
have your backpack on – what your parents have done and your history – and it
interferes with your relationships with people,’ remarks Salle. “I’m white obviously,
but the fact that I’m a foreigner made things very different because I’m not
sensitive to certain things. When I spoke to people I didn’t have to think: “Can I say
that, is that politically correct…’ I’m neutral. And that made things quite a bit
easier.’
Culture shock
Salle admits that even as a seasoned traveller, arriving in the Cape Flats was the
first time he’s ever felt the need to roll up his window, despite having an armed
entourage. He also says that truly experiencing another culture is not only what
makes his job fun but was an integral part of shooting this film.
“My DOP, AD and editor were French but the rest of the crew were South African. It
was very important for me to be surrounded on set by South African people. The
way you walk into a room and say hi to people is different from country to country
and culture to culture so I really wanted to be around that as much as possible,’
says Salle who adds that he was particularly impressed with his South African
crew’s versatility.
“What’s interesting is that in the winter South African crews work on small local
movies with no money at all, so they know how to work smart. During the summer
they work with big, high-budget Hollywood movies. That’s what makes working with
these crews so great – they know how to adapt.’
Shoot simple
City of Violence was a co-production between French companies, Eskwad, Pathe and
M6 Films and South African company Lobster Tree. The film was shot between 24
September and 7 December 2012 and was finished in time for the Cannes Film
Festival in May 2013. While some scenes were filmed in Namibia, the majority of
filming took place all over Cape Town – from the city bowl and residential
neighbourhoods to the townships and the gang riddled Cape Flats.
In working with DOP Denis Rouden, whose camera of choice was an Arri Alexa,
Salle made the decision to disregard the stereotypical slick and polished Hollywood
look, opting rather to give the film a look of raw “realness’. “I used a crane a little
bit but mostly I tried to keep it simple and get close to the characters. This is a
rough story which takes place in a rough country so I wanted it to be gritty and
real.’
Production Details
Producer: Richard Grandpierre
Co-producers in South Africa: Eric Vidart Loe and Juli Lotter
Co-producer: Romain Le Grand
Director: Jerome Salle
Writers: Julien Rappeneau and Jerome Salle
Lead cast: Orlando Bloom, Forest Whitaker, Dan Fletcher
Production design: Laurent Ott
Cinematographer: Denis Rouden
Editor: Stan Collett
Sound mixer: Nico Louw
Sound designer / sound effects editor / sound re-recording mixer: Nikolas
Javelle
Original music: Alexandre Desplat
Gear supplied by: Take2 Films
