Matwetwe review – Hustle in a township

Director and writer Kagiso Lediga, a familiar figure on the comedy circuit with his unique perspective on the South African landscape, has created an off-the-wall movie about two Atteridgeville teenagers.

Lefa (Sibusiso Khwinana) and Papi (Tebatso Mashishi) are straight out of high school and trying to find meaning in their lives.

Lefa is accepted at university to study botany, but can’t decide if he should go. He has developed a “magical” weed called matwetwe, which is Pretoria street lingo for “wizard”, and believes it will make him a fortune.

His friend and business partner is the confident Papi, who fancies himself as a bit of a ladies’ man, but the ladies have other ideas.

Matwetwe. Photo: Universal Pictures

The two intrepid characters never give up, managing to find solutions to everyday problems. In the opening sequence, three drunks sitting outside a rundown shop serve as the narrators, recounting stories of various loony township characters, including one crazy who thinks he’s an upmarket German car.

The story, based on Lediga’s own coming-of-age in this township teeming with people, is peppered with moments of low-key humour and some absurd situations that provide Matwetwe with a unique footprint.

The movie won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, but there are laugh-out-loud moments throughout this breezy narrative, thanks to some audacious scripting, one involving a heated sexual scene.

The dialogue, too, reflects the reality of townships. Papi uses derogatory language when talking about women and is admonished by Lefa.

The matwetwe is stored in various shacks dotted around the township and the teenagers dream of selling a stash for lots of money which will help set them up for life. But there are a number of dubious individuals, mostly township gangsters, who have other plans and want to get their greedy hands on the stash.

Matetwe. Photo: Universal Pictures

The story focuses on these two enterprising youths who firmly believe they have a rare opportunity to become millionaires, with Lefa emerging as the more serious person.

The movie certainly has its rough edges, but overall the characters are reasonably credible and are amusing within the story’s context, although a few of the gangsters are stereotypes.

Black Coffee’s musical segments add mood to the unfolding drama and give the project a true African vibe. Matwetwe should have little problem finding its target market.

Info

Rating:  ★★★☆☆
Cast: Sibusiso Khwinana, Tebatso Mashishi.
Director: Kagiso Lediga (vernacular with English subtitles).
Classification: 16 DLSV.

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