Coca-Cola bottle dropped from gods? | The Gods Must Be Crazy

Summary

In the 1980 film 'The Gods Must Be Crazy,' Xi, a member of the San tribe, encounters a Coca-Cola bottle which he initially believes to be a gift from the gods. However, its presence brings conflict, jealousy, and violence to his peaceful community. After deciding to dispose of the bottle, Xi embarks on a journey that intertwines with the actions of terrorists, a biologist, and a teacher. Along the way, Xi’s unique skills help thwart a terrorist plot, and he eventually throws the bottle off a cliff, returning to his tribe. The story blends humor, adventure, and cultural clashes.

Takeaways

• 😀 Xi and his San tribe live peacefully in the Kalahari Desert, away from industrial civilization.
• 😀 A glass Coca-Cola bottle is thrown from an airplane and lands in the desert, causing confusion and chaos among the tribe.
• 😀 The tribe initially believes the bottle is a divine gift but soon experiences negative emotions like anger, jealousy, and violence because of it.
• 😀 Xi decides to embark on a journey to dispose of the bottle, which he calls an 'evil thing'.
• 😀 Meanwhile, biologist Steyn and his assistant M'pudi are tasked with picking up Kate Thompson, a woman leaving journalism to teach in a village.
• 😀 Steyn and M'pudi face comedic challenges as they struggle with their broken-down jeep and navigating checkpoints while picking up Kate.
• 😀 A safari guide named Jack Hind helps Steyn and Kate reach the village after a series of mishaps with their vehicle.
• 😀 Xi gets arrested for shooting a goat but is later hired as a tracker in exchange for prison time. He begins to learn how to drive a jeep.
• 😀 Kate and her students are taken hostage by terrorists, and Steyn, M'pudi, and Xi work together to free them using Xi's tranquilizer darts and quick thinking.
• 😀 After the rescue, Steyn and M'pudi continue their journey, while Xi, having never seen money before, throws the paper currency away.
• 😀 Xi reaches the 'edge of the world' and disposes of the Coca-Cola bottle, believing it to be the source of the tribe's problems, before returning home.

Q & A

What is the initial event that sets the plot in motion in 'The Gods Must Be Crazy'?

The initial event is when a pilot throws a glass Coca-Cola bottle out of a plane, which falls into the Kalahari Desert and is discovered by Xi and his San tribe.

How does Xi’s tribe initially react to the glass bottle?

Xi's tribe initially believes the bottle to be a gift from the gods, just like plants and animals, and begins to use it in various ways.

Why does the glass bottle cause problems for Xi’s tribe?

The bottle causes problems because it is the only one of its kind, and soon everyone wants it, leading to unfamiliar emotions like anger, jealousy, hate, and violence among the tribe members.

What does Xi do in response to the negative impact of the bottle?

Xi tries to return the bottle to the gods, shouting at them to take back the 'evil thing' that has caused trouble in his community.

What decision does Xi make regarding the bottle?

Xi decides to embark on a journey to the edge of the world to dispose of the bottle and end its negative influence on his tribe.

Who are the key characters introduced in the storyline alongside Xi?

The key characters include Steyn, a biologist; M'pudi, his assistant; Kate Thompson, a school teacher; and Jack Hind, a safari tour guide.

What is the situation involving terrorists in the film?

A group of terrorists, led by Sam Boga, attempt to assassinate a president, and while fleeing, they take hostages, including Kate Thompson and her students.

How do Steyn, M'pudi, and Xi contribute to the hostage situation?

Steyn, M'pudi, and Xi track the terrorists and, using Xi's tranquilizer darts, manage to subdue six of the eight terrorists, allowing the hostages to take control of the situation.

What happens after the terrorists are subdued?

After subduing the terrorists, Steyn and M'pudi handle the remaining two terrorists, and Jack Hind takes credit for the rescue, even though it was Steyn, M'pudi, and Xi who were responsible for the actual plan.

How does Xi react when he is given paper money for his work?

Xi has never seen paper money before and throws it on the ground, showing his lack of understanding of its value.

What is the final resolution for Xi in the film?

Xi reaches the top of a cliff, which he believes is the edge of the world, and throws the bottle off, before returning to his tribe, ending his journey.