Top 10 Detective Films About Colonisation

Description: Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn star in this adventure where a missionary and a riverboat captain navigate through German East Africa during WWI. Their journey involves solving problems and uncovering the enemy's plans.

Fact: Bogart won his only Oscar for Best Actor for this role.

Description: While not a traditional detective film, 'Zulu' explores the tension and mystery surrounding the Battle of Rorke's Drift, where a small British garrison faces an overwhelming Zulu force. The film delves into the colonial mindset and the detective work of understanding the enemy's strategy.

Fact: The film was shot on location in South Africa, and Michael Caine made his film debut in this movie.

Description: Based on Rudyard Kipling's story, this film follows two British adventurers in colonial India who set out to become kings in a remote part of Afghanistan. Their journey involves solving the mystery of an ancient treasure and navigating the politics of a colonised land.

Fact: Sean Connery and Michael Caine, who star in the film, were friends in real life and had a great time making the movie.

Description: While more of a romantic drama, the film includes elements of mystery as Karen Blixen navigates life in colonial Kenya, dealing with personal and political intrigues.

Fact: The film was shot on location in Kenya, with Meryl Streep learning to speak Danish for her role.

Description: This film tells the tale of a pair of man-eating lions that terrorise a construction site in Tsavo, Kenya, during the building of the Uganda-Mombasa Railway. The detective element comes from the hunt for these elusive predators, mirroring the colonial struggle against the unknown.

Fact: The film is based on a true story, and the lions' skins are on display at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

Description: This adaptation of A.E.W. Mason's novel involves a British officer who resigns his commission, only to be branded a coward. He then goes undercover in Sudan to clear his name, blending detective work with the harsh realities of colonial warfare.

Fact: The film was shot in the Sudanese desert, providing an authentic backdrop to the story.

Description: Based on John le Carré's novel, this film follows a British diplomat investigating the murder of his activist wife in Kenya, uncovering a conspiracy involving pharmaceutical companies and colonial exploitation.

Fact: The film was shot on location in Kenya, adding to its authenticity.

Description: While primarily a political drama, this film features a doctor who becomes the personal physician to Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. The detective element comes from uncovering the truth behind Amin's regime and the doctor's own survival.

Fact: Forest Whitaker won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Idi Amin.

Description: This TV series, based on Paul Scott's novels, explores the complexities of British rule in India through a series of interconnected stories, many involving detective work to uncover the truth behind various incidents.

Fact: The series was critically acclaimed and won several BAFTA awards.

Description: Set in 18th-century South America, this film involves Jesuit missionaries who attempt to protect a native community from Portuguese and Spanish colonial forces. The detective work here is in understanding the motivations of the colonisers and the indigenous people.

Fact: The film won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.