Os Iniciados

"Xolani" or just "X" (Nakhane) left his Xhosa tribe to find work in the city, but has now returned as a "caregiver" to help the young men prepare for their impending initiation into manhood. This essentially involves being covered in a white paint and preparing for a circumcision that was as likely to lead to terminal infection as to anything else. He reunites with his married friend "Vija" (Bongile Mantsai) and we quickly discover that's their is an unconventional friendship - and one that is best kept under wraps. That proves much more difficult when one of his initiates - "Kwanda" (Niza Jay) cottons on and it's clear that he can, and will, cause trouble. What follows is a poignantly told story of two men treading on eggshells. They must reconcile their own feelings with their responsibilities to their families, community and culture, and as events begin to spiral out of control it falls to "X" to make some very difficult choices and take some equally drastic action. There isn't loads of dialogue here, the photography and the simplicity of the surroundings do most of the heavy lifting as we observe their drama unfolding against a backdrop of attitudes that can make you wince at times. On the face of it, you could make some value judgments about "Kwanda" but when the context of their societal values is presented to us, that's not quite so simple as us Westerners might expect. This has a very natural feel to it, the characters seem plausible and they do engage. It's worth ninety minutes, for sure.

This film has caused controversy in South Africa because of the secrecy surrounding initiation, and it will be viewed by Xhosa very much as a hostile white man's view of the practice. There is little about the cutting (nothing is shown) but much about homophobia and bullying. It is clear that the filmmakers think (as I do) the idea that initiation makes boys into men is hollow.

It's a slow-burning drama with three central characters, Xolani ("X") a caregiver to a single initiate, Kwanda, among a group of about 10, three of whom are cared for by Vija. X has sex annually at the initiations with Vija, who is married (shades of Brokeback Mountain), but their relationship is ambiguous. Kwanda's sexuality is unclear, but coming from Johannesburg, he is more urbane than the others, and suspect for that reason. He is called a "faggot" but more as a general-purpose insult.

The initiates are all cut early on in the film; there is mention of painful herbs being applied, and infections, but not the significant risk of death. Near the end, Kwanda, who has said very little, dismisses the importance of the genital cutting (without actually denouncing it). The irony is that he _has_ matured from his experience on the mountain, but not in the way the traditionalists imagine. Another irony is that X seems to have learnt from his pupil.

What the film very much brings out is the urban-rural, traditional-modern tension in South Africa, though the setting is entirely traditional. I recommend it to urban people for a glimpse into a very different culture - that yet throws light on our own.

At the first glance The Wound looks like a movie about the Xhosa tradition concerning initiating boys into manhood: they go into the mountains to experience genital cutting. And while it is and interesting look into this custom which I knew very little about and which I found both fascinating and deeply disturbing. it is also much more.

The movie touches on a number of important issues. We see a taboo homosexual relationship in a deeply homophobic environment and the way that gay people deal with living in such a culture. We see the conflict between the old ways represented by people insisting on carrying on the traditional initiation and the new ways of city life and assimilation into white culture. We see a story about growing up and becoming a man, even if the notion of manhood isn't understood in a traditional way.

The story is carried mostly visually as there isn't a lot of dialogue in the movie. In my opinion, this fits the story perfectly, as men traditionally aren't meant to talk about their feelings. It also means that the actors must convey the character's emotions through facial expressions and gestures, and they do a really good job, creating completely believable character.

All in all, I would say that The Wound is a solid piece of filmmaking, touching important contemporary problems. It may be too slow for some, but for me the pacing and the limited amount of dialogue are perfect of such a story.

The question isn't whether "The Wound" is audacious-it's whether it even bothers to disguise its brutal intentions. Directed by John Trengove, this South African film dives headfirst into the complex and often uncomfortable world of masculinity, tradition, and desire. It's a film that dares to lay bare the raw nerve endings of cultural practices and sexual awakening, but the question remains: does it advance the conversation, or does it simply revel in its shock value?

"The Wound" centers around a rite of passage known as the ulwaluko, a traditional Xhosa circumcision ceremony that serves as a painful coming-of-age ritual for young men. Enter Xolani (Bongile Mantsai), a reluctant participant who returns to the mountains, hiding deep emotional scars beneath a stoic facade. When his childhood friend Vija (Niza Jay) arrives, the film ignites into an intense exploration of forbidden love and the chafing tension between societal expectations and personal identity.

Did I mention how utterly uncomfortable it can be? In the first act, Trengove's film is laden with magnetic visuals and ominous undertones, in stark contrast to the resonant silence of the characters grappling with their hidden truths. But does discomfort lead to insight, or does it simply serve as an excuse for an artistic endurance test? I found myself straddling both sides of this line, at times entranced by its boldness, and at other moments, repulsed by its seemingly gratuitous male nudity and torture-do we really need to endure this level of discomfort to understand its artistic merit?

The cinematography is, without a doubt, a stunning element of "The Wound." The South African landscape is both breathtaking and haunting, an apt backdrop for the turmoil brewing within the characters. But can beautiful visuals compensate for muddled thematic execution?

The cinematography is, without a doubt, a stunning element of "The Wound." The South African landscape is both breathtaking and haunting, an apt backdrop for the turmoil brewing within the characters. But can beautiful visuals compensate for muddled thematic execution? The film's pacing often feels disjointed-are we meant to be lulled by the rhythmic beauty of nature while internal conflicts bubble just beneath the surface? Or is it just an elaborate way to distract from its uneven narrative?

Now, onto the performances-if only I could say that every actor hit the mark. Mantsai delivers a rich, layered portrayal of Xolani, embodying suppressed longing with palpable depth. Niza Jay has moments that flicker with charisma but is overshadowed by the script's uneven treatment. Why is it that the secondary characters feel underdeveloped while the lead wrestles with the weight of an entire oppressive culture? Is it too much to expect more well-rounded portrayals in a film that aspires to tackle such grave themes?

Tackling head-on the cultural taboos of sexuality during a very traditional coming of age ritual in South Africa and hopefully going some way to educate and inform those who still live in the past and have yet to evolve from those traditions and beliefs.