The criticism points to the fact that as a white, non Xhosa man, he cannot identify with the films content.
Trengrove has been the object of strong criticism for being a white director at the helm of a culturally specific story. The story of the film was written by John Trengrove, Thando Mgqolozana and Malusi Bengu. Mgqolozana’s novel sheds light on the experience of failed circumcision and the impact it has on the process of the initiation for ‘becoming a man’. Thando Mgqolozana’s novel, “A Man Who Is Not a Man” was used as a reference for the film’s script. It plays out through the dialogue of the elders, as well as the class differentiation. For example, Kwanda’s behaviour is constantly blamed on him being a ‘city-boy’. Modernity is represented by the city and the effect it has on people who leave the rural areas, as well as those who remain in the rural areas. The conflicting juxtaposition of modernity and tradition plays out through the process of initiation and the Xhosa culture that governs the lives of these men. Although this is highly criticised and resisted in the film, through the character of Kwanda, the pain and fear of having same-sex desire is expressed through the struggles of the characters of Xolani and Vija. It is hidden and anyone suspected of deviating from heterosexuality is immediately scorned and excluded, due to traditional beliefs purporting homosexuality as taboo and wrong. Homosexuality in the film is explored as both a repressed and oppressed experience in the setting of traditional Xhosa cultural tradition. Does identifying as gay mean one is less of a man? Does being a man mean you cannot identify as gay? What does being a man entail? What are the detrimental attributes and contradictions of this subscribed manhood? What pressures do human beings face in upholding their manhood? Through the lives of the three Xhosa male characters, the construct of Xhosa masculinity is largely interrogated. Academy voters which are comprised of thousands of members divided according to 17 different branches will then do the voting to select the winner. The Academy committee will then announce a list of 9 finalists, and from there a second committee will establish five final nominees. Submissions for this category are due in October and each country may only submit one film, with a requirement being that film dialogue must contain more than 50% in a foreign language. On the 16th of September 2017, Inxeba was released in selected theatres in South Africa, to meet its requirements as a candidate for best foreign film category at the Oscars. Nevertheless, the central themes played out in Inxeba brings to light subaltern stories and perspectives that push critical issues to the forefront for a national dialogue and reflection. However, the response based solely on the release of the trailer resulted in a strong backlash, particularly among certain people within the Xhosa community in South Africa, with threats of protest and strong criticism against the film crew. In Florida it won the Jury Prize for the best narrative at the 19th annual Sarasota Film Festival. It won best feature film at the 32nd Lovers Film Festival. In Taiwan at the Taipei Film Festival it won best film award in the International New Talent Competition. In Spain at the Valencia International Film Festival it won best film and best actor for the Cinema Jove section. The film premiered in Utah, in the USA at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2017 and at the 67th Berlin Film Festival. Kwanda’s actions and comments during his initiation pose a disruption to the institution and a particular challenge to Xolani and Vija when he discovers their relationship.Īt the 38th Durban International Film Festival in July 2017, the film won two awards for best director (John Trengrove) and best actor (Nakhane Touré). As the complexity of their relationship plays out, in conjunction with their roles as caregivers and Xhosa men, Xolani is challenged by the behaviour and taunts of his initiate, Kwanda, who is far more embracing of his sexual identity. They have a secret sexual relationship that they only engage in during this period every year. Two of the men (Xolani and Vija) are caregivers and tasked with assisting their initiates during this period. Inxeba is essentially an intersectional story about three Xhosa men that is told in the setting of the mountains of the Eastern Cape during a period of the male Xhosa initiation, which is referred to as ulwaluko.
0 kommentar(er)
