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. Having first explored male circumcision in his short film Ibhokhwe, South African director John Trengove revisits this topic and other rituals of masculinity in his first feature. The tension that builds inexorably throughout the film derives on the one hand from the young Kwanda who increasingly calls into question the patriarchal codes of the initiation, as well as the unbearable crisis building in Xolani as he must choose between the traditional world that he knows, and his own fulfillment.

details

  • Runtime

    88 min
  • Country

    South Africa, Germany, Netherlands, France
  • Year of Presentation

    2017
  • Year of Production

    2016
  • Director

    John Trengove
  • Cast

    Nakhane Toure, Bongile Mantsai, Niza Jay Ncoyini
  • Production Company

    Urucu Media
  • Berlinale Section

    Panorama
  • Berlinale Category

Biography John Trengove

Born in 1978, he lives in Johannesburg in South Africa. After studying at the Tisch School of the Arts in New York, he directed television, documentaries and commercials. His miniseries Hopeville won numerous awards at international festivals. He also works as a theatre director and his stage play 'The Epicene Butcher' won the Amsterdam Fringe Festival award for best international production. His short film iBhokhwe (The Goat) screened in the Berlinale's Generation section and at over 20 other festivals. The Wound is his feature film debut.

Filmography John Trengove

2000 I'll Take You by Force on the Living Room Rug | 2002 Long Distance Love | 2003 Leather Family | 2003 Breakfast | 2004 Say Hi to Bangkok | 2005 Hard Copy | 2006 Bay of Plenty | 2008 The Lab | 2009 Hopeville | 2010 Intersexions | 2010 Disco 3000 | 2011 Shuga | 2013 Muscle Jew