Xolani, a lonely factory worker, joins the men of his community in the mountains of the Eastern Cape to initiate a group of teenage boys into manhood, through the controversial Xhosa practice of Ukwaluka. But when a defiant initiate from the city discovers Xolani’s best kept secret, his entire existence begins to unravel.

This tough, uncompromising film explores the cultural tensions between progress and tradition, and the clash between sexual identity and the Xhosa ideal of masculinity. It premiered at Sundance to outstanding reviews before enjoying considerable success at both Berlin and our partner festival, TLVFest in Tel Aviv.