Movie Type: Psychological Thriller, Political Drama
Themes: Drug Addiction, Drug Trade, Street Gangs
Main Cast: Ice Cube, Elizabeth Hurley, Ving Rhames, Eric Miyeni
Release Year: 1997
Country: US
Run Time: 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
In this drama, a South African exile returns to his homeland to find that justice hasn't brought peace. Vusi Madlazi (Ice Cube) is a student and political activist living in San Francisco; he was born in South Africa, but his connection to anti-apartheid rebels made his family fear for his life, so he was sent to the United States, where he's been ever since. When he attends his father's funeral, Vusi visits South Africa for the first time since the fall of apartheid and Nelson Mandela's rise to power. However, he discovers that not all the changes in his country have been for the better; drugs and gang violence have begun to overtake Soweto, and his older brother, once a dedicated anti-apartheid activist, isn't sure what to do with his life now that the changes he fought for have come. Vusi's mother asks a favor before he returns to America; his younger brother Steven (Eric Miyeni) has run away, and she wants Vusi to look for him. While searching for Steven, Vusi meets his brother's girlfriend Karin (Elizabeth Hurley), who works as an exotic dancer. It turns out that both Karin and Steven have become addicted to crack, and Steven's disappearance is probably linked to a $15,000 debt he owes to crime kingpin Muki (Ving Rhames). Director Darrell J. Roodt's previous film was Cry the Beloved Country (1995), the first major film produced in South Africa after the collapse of apartheid. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Anthony Bishop - white thug; Tony Caprari - bar owner; Gys de Villiers - detective sergeant; Wilson Dunster - heavy policeman; Isaac Mavimbela - Muki's men; Ron Smerczak - interrogation policeman; Robin Smith - iron guard; Themsi Times - black hooker; Robert Whitehead - Sandton Hotel receptionist; Greg Latter - Sam; Secheba Morajele - Ernest; Isaac Morojele - Ernest; Thokozani Nkosi - young Vusi; Peter Kubheka - Igquira; Roslyn Morapedi - Vusi's mother; Mabel Mafuya - woman; Fana Mokena - youths; Maimela Motubatse - youths; Nkululeko Mabandla - youths; Phetjaulimam Gresham - bellboy; Prophets of Da City - band in nightclub; Helge Janssen - crack dealer; Ernest Mdlovu - Muki's men; Ike Kanupi - Muki's men; Simo Mogwaza - Muzi's men; Godfrey Dzingeni - Muki's men; Eddy Msize - Muki's men; Candy Jack Lee - Chinese girl; Peter Nkwanyana - Muki's men; Ernest Mbanzi - Muki's men; Properous Ban - Muki's men; Veronica Mitchell - Muki's wife
Credit
Emilia Roux-Weavind - Art Director, Emelia Roux - Art Director, Helena Spring - Associate Producer, Marina VanTonder - Casting, Ruy Filipe - Costume Designer, Graham Hickson - First Assistant Director, Angus McEwan - First Assistant Director, Buntu Williams - First Assistant Director, Darrell James Roodt - Director, David Heitner - Editor, Ice Cube - Executive Producer, Pat Charbonnet - Executive Producer, Candis Henning - Hair Styles, Alan Shearer - Location Manager, Michele Kuznetsky - Musical Direction/Supervision, Mary Ramos - Musical Direction/Supervision, Ann Karlin - Musical Direction/Supervision, Stanley Clarke - Songwriter, Dimitri Repanis - Production Designer, Paul Gilpin - Cinematographer, Genevieve Hofmeyr - Production Manager, Darrell James Roodt - Producer, Gillian Gorfil - Producer, Nicky DeBeer - Sound/Sound Designer, Isaac Mavimbela - Stunts Coordinator, Roly Jansen - Stunts Coordinator, Andy Anderson - Stunts Coordinator, Mick Snell - Unit Production Manager, Greg Latter - Screenwriter, Darrell James Roodt - Screenwriter, Mike Swan - Second Unit Camera, Lisa J. Levine - Action Director, Mary Parent - Executive in Charge of Production, Sara King - Executive in Charge of Production, Grethe Fox - Dialogue Coach, Dana Sano - Executive Music Producer, Toby Emmerich - Executive Music Producer, Stephen A. Hope - Music Editor, Jay B. Richardson - Music Editor, Lee Scott - Music Editor, Michael Thompson - Musical Performer, Fabian Marquez - Post Production Coordinator, J.C. Rappaport - Post Production Coordinator, Jane Hamlyn - Post Production Supervisor, Patricia Wheeler - Production Coordinator, Derek Marcil - Re-Recording Mixer, Mark Phillips - Re-Recording Mixer, John Ross - Re-Recording Mixer, Wiebina Berrington - Script Supervisor, Elinor Hardy - ADR Editor, Sharron Hawkes - ADR Editor, Derek Marcil - ADR Recordist, Mark Phillips - ADR Recordist, Charlotte Buys - Dialogue Editor, Nicci VanNiekerk - Dialogue Editor, Charles Evans - Foley Artist, Juliet Phillips - Foley Artist, Wayne Lines - Foley Editor, Tertia Britis - Scenic Artist, Debbie LeRoux - Scenic Artist, Larry LeRoux - Scenic Artist, Pacific Title - Title Design, Delapse Visual Solutioin - Title Design
Dangerous Ground tells the story of Vusi Madlazi (Cube), a South Africa native exiled to America escaping his past as an anti-apartheid revolutionary. He returns to South Africa on news of his father's death and funeral. When he returns he must adapt to the new settings in a country adjusting to the destruction of apartheid. When his elder brother, Earnest, tells Vusi he couldn't contact their younger brother, Stephen, he is asked by his mother to search out for him in Johannesburg. While searching, Vusi finds Stephen's girlfriend, Karin (Hurley). Karin explains that Stephen has stolen money from a drug dealer named Muki(Rhames). From there Vusi sets out determined to get his brother back, or die trying.
