Movie Review: ‘Five Fingers For Marseilles’

Review by James Lindorf

Arriving Friday, September 7th via Uncork’d Entertainment, Five Fingers for Marseilles is the latest from the duo of director Michael Matthews and writer Sean Drummond. The first feature-length film from the pair is a thrilling western set in post-Apartheid South Africa. Marseilles is a shanty town trapped in time, dependent on a mostly defunct railway. Its citizens are governed by corrupt local officials and live in fear of a lawless mob, headed by the ruthless and mystical Sepoko, better known as The Ghost.

Luckily for the inhabitants of the town, it is also home to the Five Fingers, a group of young rebels who made it their mission to protect their home. When their honorable fight becomes deadly, the lion of the group Tau is forced to flee his home and turn to a life of crime. Now, 20 years later, Tau is ready to return home and live a peaceful life. When he finds Marseilles in the same condition he left it, he knows it is time for the five to fight again.

The film borrows heavily from the best spaghetti westerns, including Fistful of Dollars and Magnificent Seven, while relying on its unique setting to help breathe new life into the western genre. Cinematographer Shaun Lee shot the sun-baked hills and valleys South Africa with a focus on grandeur and the epic vistas of the rugged land with amazing results.

Tau (Vuyo Dabula) is the highlight of a talented and committed cast, maybe too committed, in the case of Hamilton Dhlamini, who plays Sepoko. He was good, but over the top in a way that reminded me of King Willie from Predator 2 far too frequently. Matthews and Drummond did a great job of balancing the cast and their portrayal of archetypical characters by providing them with believable motivations.

Five Fingers for Marseilles may not be breaking any molds, but it is likely in the top 5 films of this genre produced in this century. Matthews’ first outing is well paced. Even with its nearly 2-hour runtime, it is well-acted, and beautiful to look at. It may not usher in a new era of Western films, but its modern twist on a classic genre could be a great jumping off point for people looking to test the waters.