Taut SA thriller 'Crime – it’s a Way of Life' receives its UK premiere as part of the BFI’s South African Film season at BFI Southbank on Saturday 15 May and Tuesday 18 May 2010.

Set in a middle class suburb of Joburg, this debut feature for South African writer / director Savo Tufegdzic provides an unflinching portrait of the psychology of crime on an everyday young couple. Causing a stir at South Africa’s National Arts Festival last year with some audience members walking out, others applauded the film and engaged in a heated debate after the screening. The country’s National Film and Video Foundation voiced concern over Crime’s racial stereotypes.

Chronicling a woman’s terrifying ordeal after a carjacking, the feature tackles the feelings of powerlessness that haunt a crime victim and highlights the subject of vigilante justice.

With alarmingly high violent crime levels plaguing the country, Tufegdzic comments, "South Africans have become de-sensitized to trauma. We bluff ourselves - we've forgotten how to cry -- crime is just dinner-table conversation."

Crime is also screening at hmvcurzon Wimbledon on Monday 17 May at 615pm.