‘How to Steal 2 Million’ highly recommended

Radebe, Kmarcel Van Heerden.
Writer & Director: Charlie Vundla
Cinema: Eastgate
Running time: 85 minutes
Type of film: Action/thriller
Age restriction: Adults only
Reviewed by Prof Joel White
In recent years films from South Africa, of the drama category, have not rated highly in my esteem. Therefore I approached this film, written, directed and acted-in by one man, Charlie Vundla, with caution. I came away singing its praises.
We are in Johannesburg. We meet Jack Ngubane, upon his release from a five-year prison term. It is easy to see that he has become highly embittered from the experience.
He is also clearly seen to be determined to stay clear of the personalities his prison sentence required him to endure.
Unfortunately, we learn, these wishes are beyond his ability to fulfil. He meets up with Twalas, a former confederate. We learn that Twills avoided Jack’s fate, due to Jack’s refusal to name in court his associate in the crime for which he was imprisoned. The gratitude, which Twalas is now willing to express comes in a form that may surprise the viewer of the film.
Twalas wishes Jack to rob his (Twalas’) father of R2 million in cash, which, he avers, can be easily done. And, in fact, it is almost thus.
To this viewer’s surprise, Jack enlists the assistance of a female friend, Olive, whose future happiness he seems to care about in a fraternal or perhaps paternal way.
And, in fact, the stipulated R2 million in cash is exactly there in a cabinet in Twalas’ father’s house. A getaway is made, almost picture perfect. But and no surprise to this jaded film reviewer complications a rise. On the other hand, it is these complications cleverly and ingeniously presented which give to this film the elevated rating in my esteem. If I were writing about an American film, in America, I would inform my readers that “some bad guys come out of the woodwork”.
Not least of which is a Johannesburg detective, Du Toit. The film is highly recommended and highly praised.
Despite its genre, it is, at all points, and in every respect, highly restrained, highly realistic and credible. It is recommended without qualification.