Wound, The

Brimming with sex and violence, The Wound is an exploration of tradition and sexuality
set amid South Africa’s Xhosa culture. Every year, the tribe’s young men are brought to the
mountains of the Eastern Cape to participate in an ancient coming-of-age ritual. Xolani, a quiet
and sensitive factory worker (played by openly gay musician Nakhane Touré), is assigned to
guide Kwanda, a city boy from Johannesburg sent by his father to be toughened up, through
this rite of passage into manhood. As Kwanda defiantly negotiates his queer identity within
this masculine environment, he quickly recognizes the nature of Xolani’s relationship with
fellow guide Vija. The three men commence a dangerous dance with each other and their
own desires and, soon, the threat of exposure elevates the tension to breaking point.