Zulu is Stanley Baker’s epic historical film about the 1879 battle between the Zulu warriors and a small British regiment. Though considerable artistic license is taken with the history, it does its best to portray both sides of the battle without prejudice.
1,200 British soldiers have just been slaughtered at Isandlhwana. That’s the report from Swedish missionary/preacher to the Zulus to the Officer in Charge at the nearest English outpost in Natal. “Flee in the name of a peaceful God!” he urges them. But Engineering officer John Chad, portrayed by Stanley Baker, feels that he must hold the Colonial line against the coming onslaught. With a band of 139 men, most of whom have never seen combat and a third of whom are in the outpost’s makeshift hospital, he mounts a defense at Rorke’s Drift against the Zulus, a warrior tribe over 4,000 strong.
The Zulu are accurately portrayed as Africa’s most intelligent and fiercest combatants. They are far from savages, instead employing strategy and forethought in battle. The movie follows the Zulu king, Cetshwayo, from the last-minute mass wedding of the Zulu braves to their sacrifice on the battlefield. You’re able to sympathize with both the Zulus and the Brits, and both sides are portrayed as honorable in their own way. Zulu commemorates the last major battle of the Zulus as an independent nation of people.
The movie develops all of its characters well. That’s a large part of its strength. You want to see the heretofore lazy Henry Hook show his strength and true colors. You root for Surgeon Maj. James Henry Reynolds to be able to save his quickly dying men. You want to sing along with the Welshmen of the regiment as they belt out hymns and battle songs in answer to the Zulu chants. Though it’s 138 minutes long, because you’ve become completely invested in the characters, it doesn’t lag for even a moment.
The best line of the movie is when privileged and spoiled Lietuenant Gonville Bromhead, portrayed by a young Michael Caine, says with apologetic awe to Lt. Chad, “I feel afraid and there’s something more. I feel ashamed. There. You asked me and I told you. How was it your first time?” Chad responds with, “Do you think I could stand this butcher’s yard more than once?” It’s a telling moment because Chad, with his engineer’s mind, has maintained order and discipline despite the seeming hopelessness of the battle. Zulu is Caine’s first major role, and in the 40 years since, he hasn’t equaled the magic.
The battle scenes are intense, showing the thin red line at its finest. Yet in the midst of the disciplined machine that is the British Army, we see humanity, humility, and kindness. This spectacular film is backed up by equally as spectacular music, and incredibly beautiful scenery.
In a world so full of men without chests, Zulu is a celebration of real manhood – men who are frightened and subject to all the other frailties of the human condition, yet still rise to the challenge to defend what they believe is right.
Julie’s Rating: 5 stars 
MPAA Rating: Not rated, but would likely be PG or PG-13 due to violence
Cautions: Although not gratuitously gory, the movie is about a war and there is violence throughout. Also, the Zulu women are accurately portrayed – which means scantily dressed. They are only in the first part of the movie.
Appropriate for: Teens to watch with their parents
