The much-anticipated local horror satire film, Mlungu Wam, will be coming home this October. Fresh from its run at the Toronto International Film Festival, Mlungu Wam will be screened in South Africa from the 20th of October until the 5th of November 2022.
Mlungu Wam is an eerie psychological thriller about Tsidi, a single mother who is forced to move in with her estranged mother Mavis, a live-in domestic worker caring obsessively for her catatonic white ‘Madam’. As Tsidi tries to heal her family however, the sinister spectre of ‘Madam’ begins to stir.
‘Watching a lot of horror movies, I was struck by how few films in the genre touch on the ordinary everyday horrors in our society. I’m referring to the horrors of poverty, disease, homelessness, landlessness, racism, disempowerment and oppression. The horror genre can be an immensely powerful tool for both social critique and thought-provoking entertainment.’ says Director and Co-Producer Jenna Cato Bass.
‘We chose to use the genre to highlight the ongoing inequality in South Africa and the impact it has on our family structures. The story follows Tsidi’s point of view and her conscious efforts at breaking cycles of generational traumas while carving a better future for her daughter, using the small amount of access that she has. Through all her efforts, Tsidi feels stuck, as though she is falling into the same cycle, despite her knowledge, consciousness and plan of action. Finding herself in a vulnerable situation, she is forced to tackle these issues head on at the potential cost of her own mental health and survival’ say Co-Writer and Producer Babalwa Baartman.
The film will be screened with a Cinewav viewing experience at various venues around Cape Town. The Cinewav app allows users to watch a film on a big screen while streaming the audio through their smartphones and headphones for the ultimate immersive sound. There will also be a night market, curated by Inxwala Slow Market and featuring small, black-owned businesses, before and after the screenings. Tickets are available on Webtickets.
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