The Wound
Eastern Cape, South Africa. A lonely factory worker, Xolani, takes time off his job to assist during an annual Xhosa circumcision initiation into manhood. In a remote mountain camp that is off limits to women, young men, painted in white ochre, recuperate as they learn the masculine codes of their culture. In this environment of machismo and aggression, Xolani cares for a defiant initiate from Johannesburg, Kwanda, who quickly learns Xolani's best kept secret, that he is in love with another man.
- 6.2
- 2017
- Released
- 1h 28m
Nakhane
Xolani
Bongile Mantsai
Vija
Niza Jay Ncoyini
Kwanda
Thobani Mseleni
Babalo
Gabriel Mini
KhwaloZwelakhe Mtsaka
Elder 1Menzeleli Majola
Elder 2Gamelihle Bovana
SiceloHalalisani Bradley Cebekhulu
LukasInga Qwede
NcedoSibabalwe Ngqayana
ZukoSiphosethu Ngcetane
NkosiLuyanda L. Vunqo
DompasThando Mhlontlo
NinjaAnga Ntsepe
LesegoHellman Hlomuka
Vija's InitiateLoyiso 'Lloyd' Ngqayana
Vija's InitiateZimi Banisi
Vija's InitiateLuxolo Ngqunge
CaregiverRefiloe Ramatlapeng
CaregiverMonde Bambelo
CaregiverJan Bloxham
White FarmerCaswell Sabelo Mabona
Community ManMpho Diamond
Community Man
Released
xh
$142,684.00
- #homophobia
- #circumcision
- #south africa
- #xhosa
- #in the closet
- #initiation
- #rite of passage
- #masculinity
- #banned
- #african customs
- #circumcision ritual
- #traditional leader
- #traditional culture
- #eastern cape
- #south african
Reviews
"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" (Bongi