Inxeba (The Wound) unbanned by Pretoria High Court
Controversial film Inxeba (The Wound) will be back at mainstream cinemas after the Pretoria High Court order to unban the film was granted.
The film is set to return to mainstream cinemas by Friday, 9 March after an appeal on the reclassification of the film to X18 was taken to court by Webber Wentzel on behalf of the film’s producers and distributors.
In the court application, Webber Wentzel requested a review of the decision made by the Film and Publication Board’s (FPB) Appeal Tribunal, which awarded Inxeba (The Wound) a rating of X18SNVL overturning the FPB’s original rating of 16SL. The decision essentially classified the film as hard core pornography.
The urgent application had also sought an urgent interim court order, allowing the movie to be screened again. In its papers, the FPB, represented by Motsoeneng Bill Attorneys, argued that it stood by its original classification of 16LS and therefore supported the application.
The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) in Gauteng, The Man and Boy Foundation and the FPB’s Appeals Tribunal all opposed the application, lodged by Webber Wentzel on behalf of the producers and distributor, Indigenous Film Distribution.
“All opposing parties eventually capitulated on the question of urgent interim relief and the court then granted an urgent interim order instructing that the film be screened, pending a thorough review of the Appeals Tribunal decision,” said Mad Moth Communications’ David Alex Wilson.
The High Court then ruled that the X rating be removed from the 18 classification with immediate effect, while it awaits affidavits of representation from all affected parties, both for and against the decision of the Appeals Tribunal.
“I am hopeful that the capitulation of the Tribunal, Contralesa Gauteng and the Man and Boy Foundation to remove the X rating, will assist in ensuring that the violent acts performed in opposition to the film are brought to an end, and that members of the public who wish to exercise their right to engage with Inxeba are no longer prohibited from doing so,” said Producer Cait Pansegrouw.
Inxeba (The Wound) is a story about a gay forbidden love triangle between two caregivers and a teenage initiate who join the other men of their community on a journey to the mountains to be initiated into manhood. It tackles issues of masculinity and sexuality within the context of the traditional Xhosa rite of passage.
The award winning film has received critical acclaim worldwide and was shortlisted for an Oscar nomination under Best Foreign Category.
Watch the trailer below:
