Movie spotlight

Oh Schucks...! Here Comes UNTAG

Name: Oh Schucks...! Here Comes UNTAG
Released: 1990-11-30
Duration: 92 min

1990

Movie

92 min

English

Kwagga Robertse owns a farm shop in the fictional Southern African country of Nambabwe and usually cons foreign tourists by pretending to kill a lion, thus earning him the nickname 'Urumbo' (Lion Killer) from the country's natives. Kwagga is upset when the UN sends a platoon of incompetent soldiers with the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (U.N.T.A.G.), to monitor the peace process, and ensure free and fair elections after the Nambabwean War for Independence. The U.N.T.A.G's American leader, Major Bradick D. Mackay and his second-in-command, Captain Zapman are offered a diamond worth a lot of money in the U.S., and they must pay 200,000 USD to Duan Robertse, Kwagga's competitive brother trying to buy a farm left to them by their dead father.

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IMDb6.3/10

Director: Jaco Van Dormael•Genres: Comedy, Drama, War

Plot Summary

A group of Belgian soldiers are deployed to an African country during a time of political unrest. Faced with the realities of war, they grapple with their own moral compasses and the escalating violence around them. The film explores themes of camaraderie, loss, and the futility of conflict.

Critical Reception

"Oh Schucks!... Here Comes UNTAG" received a mixed reception. While some critics praised its ambitious themes and performances, others found its narrative uneven and its tone inconsistent. It is often regarded as a thought-provoking, albeit flawed, examination of the Belgian military's role in international peacekeeping missions.

What Reviewers Say

Praised for its mature handling of serious themes within a military context.
Criticized for an occasionally disjointed plot and inconsistent pacing.
The performances, particularly Jan Decleir's, were frequently highlighted as a strong point.

Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce for this film, making it difficult to summarize general sentiment. However, discussions often touch on its somber portrayal of military duty and the ethical dilemmas faced by soldiers.