ZEF. The Story of Die Antwoord

Jon Day South Africa 2024 90 min.

The wild story of the elusive South African band Die Antwoord, which rocked festival stages some 15 years ago—and not just figuratively speaking: Die Antwoord was a dangerous-looking, unpredictable band, a motley crew that embraced white trash South African aesthetics and delivered a mix of hard-hitting, provocative, and bizarre rap-rave. The film recounts the rise, fall, and controversy surrounding this phenomenon in an equally creative and original way.

The South-African producer and director, Jon Day, followed Die Antwoord during a period of five years and offers a unique glimpse behind the scenes. The documtary is narrated by Sixteen, the daughter of the two band members Yolandi and Ninja. 

The film also devotes considerable attention to the band’s distinctive and instantly recognizable aesthetic: the trashy look, the photography, and the memorable video clips featuring some of the strangest and most controversial figures. It likewise does not shy away from the delicate subject of the allegations of exploitation and abuse involving adoptive son “Tokkie” du Preez.