Big Nunu’s Little Heist (2023) – Movie Review and Summary (with Spoilers)
“Big Nunu’s Little Heist” is a South African gem of a movie.
General Information
| Director(s) | Andy “Admiral” Kasrils |
| Screenplay By | Andy “Admiral” Kasrils |
| Based On | N/A |
| Date Released (Netflix) | July 28, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Comedy, Crime, Non-English (Zulu) |
| Film Length | 1 Hour, 34 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Rated TV-14 |
| Noted Characters and Cast | |
| The Delivery Man | Jefferson Tshabalala |
| Nunu | Tony Miyambo |
| Innocentia | Amahle Khumalo |
What Is “Big Nunu’s Little Heist” Rated And Why?
“Big Nunu’s Little Heist” is rated TV-14 for violence, theft, and sex. None of it is explicit.
Overview
“Big Nunu’s Little Heist” is a South African production with a lot of heart, style, and goofy characters. While the heist story may come second to the flair of the movie, writer and director Andy “Admiral” Kasrils makes sure you’re constantly entertained.
Film Summary
This content contains pertinent spoilers. Also, images and text in this post may contain affiliate links. If a purchase is made from those sites, we may earn money or products from the company.
The mysterious yet skilled Delivery Man (Jefferson Tshabalala) is struggling at his job of delivering stoves. His boss is rude, the money is little, and he’s worked harder than most. Due to The Delivery Man’s military background, he’s more skilled than the job he currently has requires. One day, the Delivery Man is recruited by Big Nunu (Tony Miyambo), a local gangster who sounds like Marlon Brando’s Vito Corleone with a crew of inept and goofy cronies. Nunu needs the Delivery Man’s help on a heist to steal firearms. While the Delivery Man is cautious, he agrees due to the potential money he could receive.
Unbeknownst to the Delivery Man, Big Nunu plans to use these guns for an even larger heist that involves millions of dollars. He’s informed of this by Innocentia (Amahle Khumalo), Nunu’s girlfriend. She claims she’s not in love with Nunu and is just a really good actress who needs financial stability. Innocentia and The Delivery Man develop their own romance. As the cops are close on the trail of Nunu’s heist, The Delivery Man and Nunu become paranoid and unsure of who to trust as the heist gets closer, the money gets larger, and Nunu’s henchmen become less reliable and more jealous of The Delivery Man.
“Big Nunu’s Little Heist” can feel like a madcap sugar rush of movie tropes conveyed through a South African lens. But we need more inventive movies like “Big Nunu’s Little Heist” that know how to stretch a budget and amuse viewers as much as the movie amuses itself.
Other Noteworthy Information
- Netflix may choose to show you the dubbed English version. Please, for your sake, choose the Zulu language with English subtitles.
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
The Delivery Man
The Delivery Man is skilled in weaponry and fighting, yet he is stuck with a dead-end job as a delivery person. While he doesn’t want to work with Nunu, he also sees this as a potential escape from his financial troubles.
Nunu
Nunu is the head of his criminal gang of misfits. Nunu may be the leader because he’s the smartest of his group, but he also lacks the know-how and skill to pull off his mission.
Innocentia
Innocentia is an aspiring actor with dreams of escaping her small town and Nunu’s grasp. She may be his girlfriend, but she’s more attracted to The Delivery Man.
Review
Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)
Who Is This For?
People who are looking for a well-told non-English movie will find something to enjoy. Fans of heist movies that don’t take themselves too seriously and fans of South African production should also take a look at “Big Nunu’s Little Heist.”
Highlights
Director and Film Crew Bring Plenty of Styles
Andy “Admiral” Kasrils keeps his camera moving, chooses creative angles for the action, and keeps the humor alive with an energetic score and music selection. “Big Nunu’s Little Heist” enjoys being contradictory and turning crimes into cartoons. Shots of balloons floating, money floating from the sky, and a mad scientist’s creations bring a childlike spirit and simplicity to the story that’s endearing.
A Well-Made South African Film on a Budget
“Big Nunu’s Little Heist” doesn’t have recognizable Hollywood stars; it wasn’t filmed on a soundstage in New York or LA, and the writer/director has very little credit on IMDB. All of these reasons are precisely why you should watch this movie. South African cinema deserves more attention, and this movie, from its gorgeous lighting to its inventive cinematography and fine acting, is a testament to that.
On The Fence
A Heist Movie Where the Heist Doesn’t Matter
The plot is stretched quite thin in “Big Nunu’s Little Heist,” and even when we do experience the money heist, it feels smaller in scope than the gun heist that preceded it. A casual viewer might question what the danger in the story is since all of the criminals are comical, and The Delivery Man has easily shown his dominance in fighting. While all of this allows for fun, it also allows for eyes to look down at their phone.
Recommendations
If you like this movie, we recommend:
- Snatch
- Hypnotic
- Fatal Seduction
Check out our movies page for our latest movie reviews and recommendations.
FAQs
Answers to some questions you may have regarding this movie:
The Reason The Movie Is Named “Big Nunu’s Little Heist”
The movie is named “Big Nunu’s Little Heist” due to mob boss Nunu being bigger than your average bear, and his heist plans may start as little, but grow in ambition and danger.
Does “Big Nunu’s Little Heist” Setup A Sequel or Prequel?
Big Nunu and his gang are caught by the police, but they escape in a cloud of smoke. The story has closure, but there is potential for a sequel.
