Inxeba (The Wound)

Starring:  Nakhane Touré, Bongile Mantsai, Niza Jay Ncoyini

Year: 2017
Running Time:  88 minutes

I was eager to see the controversial film that had South African tongues wagging and fists shaking last year.  Inxeba was initially banned in SA, having been given a rating of X18 (which designated the film pornography status – even though there is clearly no pornographic scenes in the film).  A High Court ruling then overturned the initial rating (providing a glimmer of hope for the South African judicial system and blow for homophobic censorship) so the film could be screened in cinemas with a regular rating of 18.

Besides the taboo topic of homosexuality in Xhosa culture, the male circumcision ritual that marks the transition into manhood and the other rituals surrounding this rite of passage are not supposed to be discussed, let alone portrayed on the big screen.  As a result, the cast and crew of the film received death threats and the film could not be screened in the Eastern Cape due to threats from its harshest critics.  However, many argued that the outrage that the film sparked was based on nothing more than homophobia.

Directed by Jon Trengrove, the movie follows Xolani (Nakhane Touré), a lonely factory worker who has had to hide what he considers to be a shameful secret – his homosexuality – as he travels to the Eastern Cape to assist with the annual initiation ceremony that takes place there.  This is also where he resumes his secret and forbidden relationship with Vija (Bongile Mantsai), a married man who refers to Xolani as X, his “friend”. Xolani takes on the role of a mentor (“caregiver”) to an initiate from “the city”, Kwanda (Niza Jay Ncoyini) who is also gay and soon figures out Xolani and Vija’s secret.

Following his circumcision, Kwanda must be confined to a hut for eight days.  In this time, Xolani takes care of him, as his role of caregiver dictates, changing the dressing of his wound and helping him through the painful post-circumcision healing process.  Headstrong Kwanda soon oversteps cultural and traditional boundaries and defies the rules of the initiation, putting him on Vija’s radar, earning the disapproval of the elders and setting into motion a series of events that have tragic consequences.

The film explores the intersection of sexuality, masculinity and culture superbly and the triple burden that many black men have to carry.  It is both sad and disturbing to witness the anger and self-loathing that can result from suppressing a fundamental part of oneself and how violence is often an outlet for the conflicting emotions.  The film also provides insight into Xhosa culture and traditions and the rural Eastern Cape backdrop reminds me that not all of the province is a shithole (the waterfall was particularly picturesque).  Excellent performances from the three lead actors, who portrayed the inner turmoil of their characters and the complexities of their respective relationships perfectly.