Film

The Godless City

Director

Pierre D. Botha

Year

1958

From the life of a ducktail (Uit de lewe van ’n eendstert)

One of the earliest exploitation films from South Africa, directed and produced by independent film maker Pierre D. Botha. This is a classic example of a ‘restless youth’ film. The action takes place in Johannesburg (The Godless city of the title) and focuses on the youth sub culture of the ‘Ducktails’ (“a white youth gang subculture which emerged within post Second World War South Africa. Rebellious, hedonistic, apolitical and showing little respect for the law, education or work”).