ARTICLE BY: JULIET KAMANGA
2017 has been an exciting year for South African TV and Cinema as our actors and films are being recognised on a global scale. Locally showcased at the Durban Film Festival, now Inxeba (The Wound), directed by John Trengove, has been nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in the 2018 Academy Awards: Oscars. Inxeba features actors such as; Nakhane Touré, Bongile Mantsai and Niza Jay Ncoyini. This film gave the opportunity for young actors to break out and breaking out is what they did.
This is not the first South African film to be nominated for the Oscars, we’ve had the likes of Tsotsi and Yesterday on the international platform. However, it is the first time that a film of this nature has been released into the world. A film that tackles both initiation in the isiXhosa community as well as homosexuality. It is exciting to not only have such a film like this in South Africa but to have it recognised on many international platforms such as Sundance Film Festival, Interationale Filmfestpiele Berlin and soon the Oscars.
Inxeba has received mixed reviews on the South African platform due to the sacredness of the cultural practices experienced in the film. However, the cinematic beauty and rich story cannot be ignored. It has gotten high praise and it has tackled issues that open the doors to new types of subject matter in South Africa. And hopefully the film and its nomination for Best Foreign Language Film inspire more writers and filmmakers to explore the new ways in which we can tell rich story that only South Africa can express.
South Africa will be watching closely on the 4th of March 2018. as the words “the Oscar goes to…” are announced for Best Foreign Language film. Best of luck to Inxeba.
