“Stander”
a hidden gem

By Andrew Smith
FlipSide film critic

The old saying may be “truth is stranger than fiction,” but for Hollywood, fiction is more entertaining. Even the most fascinating real-life tales usually require significant cinematic spin before they make their way to the big screen.

So with all the “Hollywood-izing” that takes place, it’s virtually unheard of for a film based on truth to downplay what actually took place. However, that’s the case with “Stander,” the biopic of Captain Andre Stander, a policeman-turned-bank robber in 1970s South Africa.

In the film, Stander is a well-respected police captain, husband and overall man’s man. The son of an equally well-respected policeman, his life in apartheid-era South Africa seems perfect — until he witnesses firsthand the injustices committed against the country’s black citizens.

When Stander participates in a brutal killing as the police break up a peaceful protest, he suffers a crisis of conscience. Unable to live with himself, he takes action, rebelling against the system he has played a part in upholding.

His method: robbing banks. He initially does this in order to show that a white man can get away with anything in his country while blacks are punished for even the pettiest of crimes.

Soon, though, bank robbing becomes an obsession for Stander as his crimes become more publicized and he becomes more infamous. His audacity and brazenness are incredible — he’ll rob banks during his lunch break and return to the scene later in the day to investigate the crime.

Stander’s crime spree eventually ends when he is caught and thrown into prison. However, after only a few years, he not only breaks free, but he also creates the Stander Gang with several other inmates. The group continues what Stander started, robbing banks across the country, defying the law and becoming folk heroes in the process.

“Stander” is one of the extremely rare cases in cinema where the movie actually minimizes the events of its source material. In actuality, Stander robbed more than 30 banks before going to jail, and then robbed up to four banks a day with the Stander Gang. The movie leads you to believe that he robbed far less.

In addition, the jail sentence Stander is given in the film is half of what he was sentenced to in real life (75 years). Furthermore, the way that Stander’s criminal career ended in real life was far more dynamic than the film’s fictionalized one (though to avoid spoilers, neither will be detailed here).

While these changes certainly don’t harm the film, it is interesting to note that, in an age where films push the envelope as much as possible, Hollywood actually made the story tamer than it truly was.

But even with the changes, the story of Andre Stander is an incredible one. Any filmmaker would be hard-pressed to think of a more original work of fiction.

The film is a riveting account of a legendary, Robin Hood-esque criminal who becomes a celebrated anti-hero for the oppressed people of his country. Much like “Bonnie and Clyde,” it succeeds in glamorizing a life of criminality.

Much of this success stems from the performance of star Thomas Jane, who, for once, truly gets to let his acting talents shine. Jane is a gifted actor who simply can’t seem to find good work in Hollywood, despite proving himself time and again in a variety of roles.

His talents have been wasted in forgettable B-grade action movies like “Deep Blue Sea” and “The Punisher,” but here, they flourish. Jane is a true chameleon in the role. With his perfectly-mastered South African accent and huge variety of robbery disguises, he’s hard to recognize even from scene to scene.

Director Bronwen Hughes brings a crackling energy to the film, which is further enhanced by its cinematography. The movie looks like it was made during the time in which it takes place: the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The washed-out colors, jazzy soundtrack and wardrobe bring to mind any number of ‘70s-era thrillers, from “Dirty Harry” to “Dog Day Afternoon.”

If ever there were a “hidden treasure” at your local video store, “Stander” would be it. The fascinating story, brought to life with retro-cool style and a perfect performance from its lead actor, makes this a film not to be missed.