This Masterpiece of a movie is part of the Palm Springs International Film Festival – 2025.
This movie is beautifully filmed, told through the innocent but savvy eyes of gun toting, cigarette smoking Bobo; the eight-year old daughter of Zimbabwean land owners.
The title grabbed my attention while scrutinizing the multitude of film listings online. Then I noticed that it was filmed in South Africa and set in Rhodesia in 1980, the year Robert Mugabe took power as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and started the end of white colonialism.
The history of land ownership in Zimbabwe is complex and deeply rooted in colonial history. Who owned what first is a bit sketchy. Hmmm…sound familiar?
The war began as a struggle against the white minority government led by Prime Minister Ian Smith, who had declared unilateral independence from Britain in 1965. This declaration was made without the consent of the majority black population. The war resulted in significant loss of life and displacement, with estimates of around 20,000 people killed overall. The conflict also led to the end of white minority rule and the establishment of Zimbabwe as an independent nation.
Throughout the movie, Bobo keeps referring to her black help as “Africans” and white people as not real Africans. Here’s a little bit of info about that: the classification of white Africans as non-Africans has deep roots in the history of racial segregation and apartheid in South Africa. During the apartheid era (1948-1994), the government implemented strict racial classifications that divided people into categories. It is that same division today that causes violence, harm, conflict and confusion.
As it so happens, I’ve been messaging back and forth with a friend I met in Cape town who is originally from Zimbabwe. I told her that I was interested in seeing this film. Her reply: “Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight is a true story about my home town in Zimbabwe. OMG read the book years ago. It’s a film???? Jealous. Tt takes place in my town. Did it mention the name Bulawayo?
Good info, because I did not know that it was a screenplay from a book which piqued my interest even more so. The movie was adapted from Alexandra Fuller’s real life memoir by the same title.
What’s even more impressive about this film is that Embeth Davidtz; the Director/Producer/Screenwriter/Actor, was able to capture and convey a story so compelling and frightening without showing the actual violence which took place. You know it’s coming, but you don’t know when and how. Keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time.
Bobo is played by seven-year-old Lexi Venter who is amazing as a mature but also innocent child, in almost every scene. It took me a while to realize that Bobo’s mother was played by Embeth Davidtz, who was here in person for Q&A after the film. An astounding performance as a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown, fighting to keep her family’s land. What an awesome accomplishment in every department. Now who’s jealous!
Davidtz, who was born in the United States but raised in South Africa, chose to shoot in her home country and cast an entirely South African cast. The scenery is breathtaking.
My late husband and I travelled almost everywhere in Africa and I remember he wanted to show me Victoria Falls, which is located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, on the Zambezi River. We were told that the Zimbabwe side was still not totally safe even though this is in the order of about 20 years ago now. So we went to the Zambia side and stayed at the famous Royal Livingstone Hotel instead. A luxurious hotel on one side of the Falls with wild life freely roaming the property. I was in awe. Of course, my friend from Zimbabwe claims that her side is even more beautiful. Cannot imagine unless I go back someday. The sunset cruise on the African Queen on the Zambezi was just heaven. Had to throw that in as it’s one of my fondest memories.
I hightly recommend that everyone see this movie.
In closing; the story of war and hate versus good and peace is as old as humanity itself. Despite this, there’s a persistent flicker of hope that refuses to be extinguished. The path to peace is challenging, but not impossible. Let’s just stick with this hopeful possibility.
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