Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (South Africa: 1988)

Director

Neal Sundstrom

Cast list

Kitty Aldridge... Tasmin
Arthur Hall... Jimmy
Candice Hillebrand... Tasmin (child)
Michael McCabe... Robert
Mabutho Sithole... Taxi driver
James White... Father Clive
Lynne White... Gelda

Credits

Writer: Corrado Boccia, Neal Sundstrom

Synopsis

Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright is a film directed by Neal Sundstrom that was based on a poem by William Blake, and released in 1988. The film starts with a repetition, similar to the poem, of “Tyger, Tyger.” Tasmin (Kitty Adlridge) is seen as a child (Candice Hillebrand) and has a coming of age story in which she deals with, Red John, the main villain and a secret organization of dirty cops. Tasmin questions what kind of God would make a creature such as a Tiger, one that is so full of terror. Through out her coming of age process she learns to accept all things and live life on life’s terms.

Reviews

Betty Jo Tucker, “Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright.ReelTalk Movie Reviews

Margaret Lyons, “Life of Pi” Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright.” Vulture

Duncan Bowles, “Burning Bright Review. Den of Geek (blog)

Academic Articles:

HIV/AIDS in South African Documentary Film by Rebecca Hodes. Journal of African American Studies, Vol. 33, No. 1, Mar. 2007, pp. 153-171

Trends in South African Documentary Film and Video: Questions of Identity and Subjectivity by Jacqueline Maingard. Vol. 21, No. 4, Dec. 1995, pp. 657-667