Cinema Africa: Who Killed Captain Alex? at Hyde Park Picture House
Tom Grieve, Cinema EditorBook now
Cinema Africa: Who Killed Captain Alex?
Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.
Who Killed Captain Alex? is billed by Hyde Park Picture House as “one of the most authentically DIY films of all time” and it’s hard to disagree. Described (perhaps with tongue slightly in cheek) as the Ugandan Tarantino, director Nabwana IGG shot his explosive, kung fu action movie entirely on location in Kampala, without permits, while editing on a computer assembled from spare parts. The budget? Variously reported as being between $85 and $200.
Plot-wise, Who Killed Captain Alex? tracks the titular captain as he leads a group of commandos on a mission against the fearsome Tiger Mafia. There’s a Russian assassin, murders and double crosses, as well as the mystery of the movie’s title.
The film has earned a cult status since its initial release in 2010 thanks to its giddy, so-bad-it’s-good mix of martial arts, questionable CGI, and almighty explosions — you wouldn’t expect the budget to stretch to a helicopter crash, and yet somehow it does.
Nabwana, as well as serving as writer, director, cinematographer and producer is also the man behind Wakaliwood, and has been involved in some 44 feature films to this date, mostly released straight to DVD and sold directly on the streets of Kampala.
But Who Killed Captain Alex? remains the studio’s biggest success and audiences looking to find out what the fuss is about can book tickets now for Hyde Park Picture House’s Cinema Africa! event. The screening this August is in partnership with Leeds LASSN who supports refugees and asylum seekers in Leeds.
