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Leon Schuster is arguably South Africa’s most successful comedian of all time. His career spans decades and his films have raked in hundreds of millions of rands internationally. Millennials and Generation Z may not be familiar with Schuster’s work, but the rest of us certainly are.
Born on May 21, 1951, this South African comedy champion is an internationally celebrated writer, director, and actor. He is known for many fantastic films, notably the You Must Be Joking series, Mama Jack, and the Mr Bones trilogy.
But to appreciate Leon Schuster’s comedy genius, you need to understand South African culture. Here’s an Afrikaner who was born in old South Africa with all its prejudices and inequalities, who made fun of everyone, including his own.
That’s the thing about Schuster – he takes the piss out of everyone, including Whites, Blacks, Indians, Coloureds, and Asians, and it’s fabulously funny. His films are as innately South African as the everyday people he is pranking with hidden cameras and disguises.
In Schuks Tshabalala’s Survival Guide to South Africa, we see him as a game show host running proceedings – it’s outrageously hilarious. The game show host can come in many forms these days. There are even online game show hosts presenting live dealer casino games like Deal or No Deal. But nobody does it quite like vintage Schuster!
Let’s take a look at several of the most commercially successful Leon Schuster films for a better idea of his incredible appeal:
- Mama Jack – 2005 – $4,357,657
- Mr Bones 2: Back from The Past – 2008 – $3,655,844
- Mad Buddies – 2012 – $3,156,343
- Mr Bones 3: Son of Bones – 2022 – $663,096
- Panic Mechanic – 1996 – No Figures Available
- Mr Bones – 2001 – $3,651,000
- Yankee Zulu – 1993 – No Figures Available
- Oh Shucks… I’m Gatvol – 2004 – $3,533,521
By international standards, these box office takings are limited, but when you multiply those figures by R17 or R18 to the dollar, they become substantial for a local film. For example, Mama Jack, by today’s standards, will have reeled in R78.5M – not too shabby for a Schuster flick.
Mama Jack has our hero masquerading as an African woman working in a white household. Of course, it’s hilarious because Leon throws it in our faces as South Africans – the way privileged people treated domestic workers.
That doesn’t quite work in this case because Mama Jack takes care of herself/himself – or whatever pronoun this character chooses to use.
Over the years, Hollywood and the reigning cultural zeitgeist of the time have put paid to the notion of people dressing up as different ethnic, racial, or religious groups. Opposition to blackface gained tremendous traction in recent years, and that all but put paid to Leon Schuster’s career. For more interesting insights on this poignant topic, take a look at this article from the funnyman himself.
Our culture has certainly changed over the years, and it’s no longer what Schuster says, and I quote:
When the films were released, the cinemas were packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people of all races, genders and ages that laughed and enjoyed the films. But the political climate has changed, and I don’t want to add fuel to the fire. When people speak, I listen. (Leon Schuster News24.com by Herman Eloff, 24 June 2020.)
So, what happened to Leon Schuster? Did he just disappear into the darkness? No, of course not! Schuster is actively involved in filmmaking and recently released Mr Bones 3: Son of Bones, where he is a white witch doctor living with his tribesman.
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At the age of 72, of course, the guy is going to be slowing down some and certainly doesn’t take physical punishment like he used to back in his 30s, 40s, and 50s.
His legacy remains, even if his films aren’t the flavour of the day. Sometimes, you simply have to appreciate the humour in the films for what it is. We cannot resent him for what he has done because people of all colours and persuasions have laughed at his humour. Granted, some will be offended, but they simply don’t have to watch his movies.