THE SHOWERHEAD

Craig Tanner |
South Africa |
2024 |
99Min |
English
16 LS(SV)V
The Showerhead examines the work of cartoonist Zapiro, from his period as an anti-apartheid struggle-artist to his enduring role as a progressive commentator and freedom-of-expression champion. A review of former President Jacob Zuma’s scandal-ridden ascent, reign, and ultimate ousting, via his cartoons which capture issues in the post-Mandela period – corruption, subversion of the Constitution and the rule of law, and threats to freedom of expression. The film considers freedom of expression in contemporary South Africa with reference to the boundaries tested in Zapiro’s cartoons and his resolute defiance of attempts to stifle his work and affirms his continuing relevance.
Craig Tanner
Craig Tanner, Anant Singh
Marcello Maffeis
Craig Tanner
Jonathan Shapiro, Mondli Makhanya, Zwelinzima Vavi, Ronnie Kasrils, Ferial Haffejee

Screenings

27 July 19:30 Suncoast 1
28 July 17:00 Suncoast 7

Craig Tanner

Craig Tanner’s filmmaking draws on skills developed as a legal practitioner over more than three decades, initially as a labour lawyer representing trade unions in South Africa in the late 1980s, the 1990s, and the turn of the century, then as an Arbitrator determining workers’ compensation disputes in Sydney, Australia, and since 2012 as a Barrister at the New South Wales Bar, representing injured workers and the dependents of workers who have been killed in workplace accidents. His documentaries reflect the practices of his day job: careful research, analysis of evidence, examination and cross-examination of witnesses, crafting argument, and exposing wrongdoing. Craig’s previous films, Fahrenheit 2010, and The March of the White Elephants, were feature documentaries that explored the corrupt practices of FIFA, and the diversion of public funds in South Africa and Brazil from pressing social priorities such as health, housing and education, to build surplus stadiums for a four-week soccer tournament. Those films were screened at film festivals and broadcast on television around the world. Filming of The Showerhead commenced in 2016.  Completion of the film has been delayed by the demands of Craig’s legal practice, and the never-ending succession of scandals regarding Jacob Zuma that are the subject of Zapiro’s cartoons and the film itself.