Earlier today, the South African Film and Publications Board (FPB) announced that they had re-classified 'Inxeba' and given it a new rating which was similar to that given to pornographic material.
The FPB announced and explained this via social media.
To date, the biggest gripe that many have had with the multi-award winning film is it’s alleged intimate exposé of Xhosa circumcision rituals which have always been a closely guarded secret. The film has been met with resistance which recently almost turned violent after certain groups threatened to damage cinemas that chose to screen the film to the public.
Said groups even went so far as to lay complaints against the film with the Film and Publication Board about the film’s 16SL rating. The film's rating has now been increased to a shocking X18 which is the same as hardcore porn. As such, the film might no longer be screened in public cinemas and might not be available for purchase in certain retailers.
Have you seen 'Inxeba?' Do you agree with this decision or do you think it is an attempt at sabotage?
UPDATE:
As a result of the latest development in the Inxeba legal saga, the film's porn rating has been overturned‚ but the judge says movie does violate rights of Xhosa people.
Judge Joseph Raulinga went on record to say Inxeba (The Wound) violated the rights to dignity of Xhosa people, stating “if cultural beliefs and practices are to be considered‚ the film is harmful and disturbing." He went on to add that the film, which depicts a homosexual relationship between two men at an initiation school‚ exposes 16-year-olds to the sexual conduct depicted on screen in the movie.
“The film included language which was degrading to Xhosa women and further exposes women to societal violence such as rape. It contains harmful scenes which could cause tensions within the Xhosa community and even within the broader African community. By implication it has an effect on the rights of the Xhosa traditional group‚” explained Judge Raulinga.
Stressing the importance of circumcision rituals to both the Xhosa people and other African tribal groups at large, the judge stated, “sexual intercourse is a taboo subject in the context of initiation‚ which should not even be spoken about‚ let alone practiced. It contradicts the idea of ritual purity‚ which is the cornerstone of circumcision.”
This affects the channels through which the film can be distributed going forward.
We are delighted that that the Court upheld the contentions that the Appeal Tribunal's decision was unlawful and invalid and that this vindicates the position taken by the film team all along. #Inxeba
— Inxeba (The Wound) (@TheWound_SAfilm) June 28, 2018
We want to personally thank Webber Wentzel and our incredible legal team; Dario Milo, Steven Budlender, Matseleng Lekoane and Lavanya Pillay, as well as our distributor, Helen Kuun of Indigenous Film Distribution.
— Inxeba (The Wound) (@TheWound_SAfilm) June 28, 2018
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Main image credit: Supplied