Controversial film Inxeba (The Wound) is SA’s entry for the Oscars
Controversial gay Xhosa initiation film starring Nakhane Toure has been selected as South Africa’s entry for next year’s 90th Academy Awards in the category of Best Foreign Language Film.
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) met with the film selection committee last Tuesday to decide which SA films will be entered into the Oscar bid and decided on Inxeba (The Wound) directed by John Trengrove.
Critics believe the film has a good chance of being nominated for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Film category.
The NFVF’s Peter Kwele said: “The committee applauded the film as a masterpiece in terms of script, directing and performances, which are believable and captivating.
“It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in the US earlier this year – the most difficult festival to get into – and has been sold to 22 territories to date, which is evidence of its global appeal.”
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.
It opened at The Durban Film Festival this year and got a mixed response with many traditional Xhosa leaders calling for it to be banned due to its controversial nature. Although the film does not show the actual initiation, the topic remains an issue of contention in South Africa.
Chief Xhanti Sigcawu of Mbashe, who is also an uncle and spokesperson to King Mpendulo Sigcawu of amaRharhabe called for the film screening to be delayed until they had watched the film.
The film’s executive producer, Batana Vundla, responded to the call for the screening to be delayed by saying: “They have made a decision without watching the film. He is coming from an ignorant place, and is fueling hatred, violence and homophobia.”
If the film is nominated, it joins two other South African films that have been nominated in the Best Foreign Film category. Gavin Hood’s Tsotsi won the category in 2006 and Darrell Roodt’s Yesterday was nominated in 2004.
Watch the trailer below:
