Following
its successful world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and its European
premiere as the opening film on the Panorama programme at the 67th Berlinale in
Germany, South African film Inxeba
(The Wound) released theatrically in France on April 19. A film about the clash
between tradition and modernity, Inxeba
is the first feature from writer-director John Trengove, co-written by Thando
Mgqolozana and Malusi Bengu.
It will
be released on 41 screens in France, including six in Paris, seven in Lyon,
seven in Marseille and seven in Bordeaux. The film stars Nakhane Toure as
Xolani, a lonely factory worker, who joins the men of his community in the
mountains of the Eastern Cape to initiate a group of teenage boys into manhood.
When Kwanda (Niza Jay Ncoyini), a defiant initiate from the city, discovers his
secret, Xolani's entire existence begins to unravel.
The
film, a co-production between South Africa, France, Germany and The
Netherlands, attracted media partnerships with French national newspapers Le
Monde and Telerama, as well as the national radio station France Culture,” says
Roxane Arnold, head of distribution at Pyramide Films. The French distribution
company has invested R2,5 million (approximately €165,000) into the marketing
of the film and hopes to attract 50,000 viewers to cinemas in France.
“The Wound belongs to a rare class of
films – those which depict a local, unique situation with humility and respect
while triggering a much-needed conversation in every one of the territories
where it is released,” says Marie Dubas, one of the French producers from
Deuxiéme Ligne Films. “The eagerness of the French cinemas to screen it proves
the depth of the moral and political issues at the heart of the film. These
complexities are conveyed by smart and sensitive characters who are sure to
move audiences profoundly.”
Inxeba continues to travel around the world,
having been officially selected for festivals in Belgium, Poland, Australia,
New Zealand, Italy and Greece. It was recently awarded the Narrative Jury Prize
at the Sarasota Film Festival in Florida, USA.
Thus
far, the film has been licensed to distributors in 19 countries, including the
USA, the UK, Germany, Brazil and Australia. It will be distributed in South
African by Indigenous Film Distribution.
“As an
African producer, I am proud to have worked on this collaborative local film,
which has been very thoughtfully and carefully crafted over several years. The Wound is deeply embedded within
South African culture that resonates with an international audience,” says
producer Batana Vundla. “The film touches on universal human emotions around
sexual identity and self-acceptance, and it looks at the interaction between
tradition and sexuality. It’s bound to be seen as controversial by some.”
The
release strategy for South Africa ensures that the film will qualify as a
strong contender to represent the country in the Best Foreign Language Film
Category of the 2018 Academy Awards. “We are excited to be working with
Indigenous Film Distribution as we begin to implement the local rollout of Inxeba, say producers Elias Ribeiro and
Cait Pansegrouw of Urucu Media, an independent production company dedicated to
nurturing authentic voices in South African film.
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