After being off the circuit for a month, the North Gauteng High Court ruling today, temporarily lifted the X-rating of the film, Inxeba.
Inxeba tells the story of a gay factory worker who travels to rural Eastern Cape to oversee the Xhosa initiation process, only to have his secret discovered by one defiant initiate.
This ruling means that the film can now temporarily be screened in public cinemas across the country with an 18 SNL rating, pending the outcome of review proceedings before the Court. Protests about the movie took place a month ago due to traditionalists stating the movie infringed on the secrecy around the rite of circumcision.
DA Shadow Minister of Communications, Phumzile Van Damme MP said, “Today’s ruling is a serious indictment of the FPB’s Appeal Tribunal who buckled under pressure from patriarchs with outdated ideas on masculinity, tradition, and sexuality. Theirs should be to always side with the law and uphold our hard-won Constitutional rights.”
In a press release, Van Damme said the DA looks forward and will observe proceedings of the hearing, which is set to be heard on 28 March and expects nothing less than a 16 age restriction and that the Appeal Tribunal decision be declared unconstitutional. She continued: “The DA commends the producers of the film on their bravery and the continued fight against the X-rating and encourages them to continue to fight for their constitutional right to artistic freedom and freedom of expression.”
The film that caused much controversy has been nominated for eight SA Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS) and has won 19 awards at 44 festivals worldwide. It was also shortlisted for this year’s Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category but unfortunately didn’t make it to the nominee list.
Inxeba director, John Trengove expressed his relief on Twitter, by tweeting “Back in business”.
Back in business https://t.co/1pmC0hmmF7
— John Trengove (@johntrengove) March 6, 2018
Details to follow #Inxeba #InxebaHasRisen pic.twitter.com/zDESgkHbt1
— Inxeba (The Wound) (@TheWound_SAfilm) March 6, 2018
Pictures: Twitter