User Reviews

Apart from the epic cinematography and great directing, Tim Huebschle 's crime thriller #LANDoftheBRAVEfilm is a good film thanks to the effort put in documenting a historical era, with precise attention to detail.

The look and the feel captured by the film's cinematographer and editor, Haiko Boldt, are heightened by an array of crime scenes and investigative procedures, which draws one into this cinematic delight.

The film sets off with Meisie Willemse (Elize de Wee) waking with a pounding head in the middle of a traffic intersection, after getting knocked unconscious while she was trying to help a passed-out prostitute. The torso of the same prostitute is found in a dry river bed the following day.

As Willemse starts her investigation, she meets a journalist named Piet Potgieter (Pieter Greeff) who knows Meisie's about a crime Willemse committed in her youth. He threatens to expose her past and destroy her life if she does not leak all information relating to the murder. Adding to this, when another murder is committed, it is found the murder was committed with Willemse's service pistol- which was taken from whoever knocked her unconscious at the beginning of the film. This, in turn, leads to Meisie being discharged from her duties.

#LANDoftheBRAVEfilm takes its thin and predictable storyline and turns it into a gripping crime mystery. De Wee is the best and worst thing in the film. As seen in the movie's promotional material, de Wee is in a continuous straight face and she keeps this throughout the entire 95 minutes of the film. Her poker face might be the least convincing thing in the film, which pioneers the crime mystery genre in Namibia.

Despite this, de Wee's portrayal of the rugged cop with a drinking problem is spot-on, so much so that this might just be her breakout performance. Then there is Greeff, who sold Potgieter, a terrifying and horrifying villain, expertly paired alongside the tough Willemse.

The narrative of #LANDoftheBRAVEfilm is well carried by easy-flowing dialogue, and barely, if ever, made for any uncomfortable moments, which is unmissable in many locally-produced films.

Some cast members who stood out were Khadijah Mouton as the young prostitute who gets kidnapped, Muhindua Kaura as the strict and no-nonsense police chief, Ralf Boll as the brilliant and orderly Forensic Pathologist, Armas Shivute as Willemse's partner, Joalette de Villiers as a racist store owner from the 1980's and Chantell Uiras as the young Willemse (aka Charmaine). These talented stars understood that the story would go down smoother if their characters were nuanced human beings and they did just that.

Apart from sounding like a Namibian film, the cinematography really made for some of the best moments, which is thanks to the beautiful landscapes of Windhoek and Namibia as a whole. Although, the close-up shots are a little too many to the point they become irksome.

This visually stunning Namibian feature cements Huebschle as one of the best filmmakers the country has to offer.

#LANDoftheBRAVEfilm is a very authentically Namibian movie. Good script, with a great use of Namlish throughout (mixture of Afrikaans, English and Oshiwambo). Interesting plot. Outstanding acting by Khadijah Mouton in particular. A few funny moments too. All in all, really solid film. Good attention to detail with most things. The scenes from the past were authentic and believable. Solid cast overall too.

The lead character Meisie, however, is one-dimensional pretty much all the way through. Not enough complexity, and not enough focus on the pivotal moment in her past that made her the way she is. The cinematography also leans towards being one note; not enough subtlety.

Little things with some parts of the script were over-the-top, and the scene where a Coloured mother is hanging panties on a laundry line in front of the house? Not very likely, lol!

Overall, a really good, authentically Namibian story.

Great original Namibian thriller that keep you on the edge of your seat. From the start of the movie where the dog is "hurt" and most animal lovers will be upset up to the end were the serial killer is exposed... Good story line where the actors did a good job telling the story with raw emotions. Real life dramas. Pieter Greeff did a good acting job and brought his caractor to life. The Namibian landscape form part to create the dramatic sceens needed. Nice to hear local languages in a movie. Job well done. Hope to see more productions from the writer, the production team and the actors. You all can be proud.

Great Namibian themed movie, pure Namibian. Reminds me of the B1 Butcher. Great storyline, acting and graphics. Definitely a must watch for those who like a good story. Waiting for more.

Im gobsmacked by this "local" movie. As SA is your neighbour but one of the cast is my family, it feels like Im dreaming to have a movie star as a relation. Excellantly done! I would not have been able to do it better! Please make more movies!! With diffirent topics. I really and honestly want to see these guys again!! A movie made so close to home opens up the horizon for those still on their way! Will you nice people please keep us up to date and informed about future movies? It would definitily be awesome, man! It said I must make up all the characters(words) to give my review. I think im finished now. Bye!

Land of the Brave is a crime thriller set in Namibia. Tim Huebschle, the director and writer, has crafted a suspenseful narrative in which a resilient policewoman, Meisie Willemse, goes to great lengths to apprehend a serial killer. This murderer is driven by revenge, targeting her informants who happen to be sex workers.

However, she contends with a journalist, Piet Potgieter, who complicates her life by exposing skeletons in her closet. How he knows about her misstep during Namibia's first free and fair election boggles her mind.

Meanwhile, she is framed as the murderer of the girls, ultimately leading to her suspension. This prompts her to take the law into her own hands to survive and bring the serial killer to justice.

"Land of the Brave" unfolds as a story of hatred and revenge, justice and righteousness, and their impact on ordinary people, along with their personal reactions that eventually dominate and destroy their lives.

The writer excels in portraying various motives, such as freedom, prostitution, politics, revenge, justice, and more, coherently with a strong plotline. The telephone calls consistently contribute to building the tension.

The actors play their roles very well and the fact that the main characters use their mother tongue certainly lends more credibility to the authenticity of the portrayal of the characters.

The atmosphere of invincibility and ruthlessness is vividly created through elements like the dry Namibian landscapes, violence, strict police measures, and the harsh language used. The movie is realistic, not merely fiction; these are the realities constantly confronted by people in our rugged and beautiful country - the Land of the Brave.

The Land of the Brave is highly recommended, as it allows us to truly break free from all the skeletons in our country's closet and hold high the banner of liberty.