This week's episode takes us back to the turn of the 20th century just before the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa as the bioscope was introduced to the world South Africa was not far behind. Did you know the first film was screened in Johannesburg just one year after the Lumière brothers' debut in Paris? I didn’t either — until I found out about Carl Hertz and his “bioscope” showcase in 1896.
In this episode, we dive into:
- 🎥 How South Africa became one of the earliest adopters of cinema in the world
- 🧠 The powerful rise of Isidore Schlesinger and African Film Productions
- 📽️ Why De Voortrekkers (1916) became more than just a film — but a cultural ritual
- 📢 How film was used for nationalism, propaganda, and even censorship
- 🌍 The unexpected global links to Hollywood and the British Empire
Catch the episode here:
This era — from 1895 to 1947 — shows how cinema in South Africa was never just about entertainment. It was always about identity, power, and the stories that shaped the nation.
Quote of the Episode:
"De Voortrekkers wasn’t just South Africa’s first epic — it became a ritual film used to celebrate a painful past, shaping identity through the screen."
📩 Got a thought or question about today’s episode? Just hit reply. I read everything.
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