 Sura Wood of The Hollywood Reporter called it " an intelligent , moving film steeped in an authentic sense of time and place . " Her sentiments were echoed by Joe Leydon of Variety , who thought Drum was " an intelligent and affecting take on political radicalization in 1950s Johannesburg . " According to Film Threat 's Jeremy Matthews , Drum was " a solid work of classical storytelling . " He observed that it was " heartbreaking in its portrayal of Johannesburg at a time when its rulers had convinced many people that whites were born to command and blacks were born to obey and serve . " 
