Hotly-billed South African film, Sew the Winter to my Skin, continued its impressive run yesterday, screening to rave reception at the ongoing Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO).
The film about an unlikely black hero in mid-century apartheid South Africa has been arguably one of the highly anticipated pictures at this year's festival, at least going by the droves of moviegoers who packed the Cine Burkina cinema for the late evening screening.

SEW THE WINTER TO MY SKIN | OFFICIAL TRAILER (2018) from Yellowbone Entertainment on Vimeo.

The sophomore film by rising director Jahmil T.X. Qubeka is a biopic about John Kepe (played by Ezra Mabengeza), a notorious figure who in the 1950s became a legend in South Africa courtesy of his Robin Hood-like antics.
An elusive livestock thief who terrorised white farmers in the mountainous Eastern Cape region, Kepe became a hero amongst his disenfranchised people for his generosity and sheer bravery.

Although meandering at certain points, Qubeka's film largely does justice to the legend of Kepe, painting a vivid portrait of a man whose larger-than-life persona and insane exploits still remain a mystery long after he was put to death by hanging.
The film opens with a rather clichéd sequence showcasing the horrific racial violence meted out at the black population of South Africa during the apartheid era before delving into Kepe's brazen exploits, starting with the very last one which led to his capture and eventual downfall.

In perhaps what many might feel is the weakest point about the film, Kepe's motive for stealing from wealthy white farmers to feed the poor black communities is never explored. What we instead see is a
mysterious, almost psychotic, man with some form of divine purpose, and whose power to cheat death so many times is only matched by his willingness to share his loot.

The film is largely told from the perspective of a disgruntled white journalist (excellently played by Bok Van Blerk) whose personal beliefs are at loggerheads with his expectations as a reporter covering Kepe's story for an Afrikaner publication.
In an absurd show of irony, the sympathetic journalist is contrasted with a tyrannical black police officer whose desperate quest to be accepted by his white peers leads him on a ruthless hunt for Kepe.

The crowd in Ouagadougou, arguably the most cinema-loving city in Africa, gave the film a rousing standing ovation, although a few still felt disappointed by its slow pace and unsolved subplots.
Majority however seemed to agree that its striking cinematography, stylistic use of imagery and a compelling performance from the cast makes this South African western worthwhile.

Polly Kamukama (Uganda)

Africiné, The Magazine of the African Federation of Film Critic (AFFC / FACC) - www.africine.org

Africiné Magazine issue no.2 - Wednesday 27 February 2019, page 5 - FESPACO 2019 /// 26th edition

This magazine is published by the Fédération Africaine de la Critique Cinématographique (FACC). The publication was made possible thanks to the support of La Francophonie, Africalia Belgium, the Goethe-Institut and Ascric-B. It is produced by a collective of 42 African journalists from 23 countries.

Director of Publication : Khalil Demmoun

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Sid-Lamine Salouka
Abraham Bayili
Ahmed Shawky
Robert Mukondiwa
Fatou Kiné Sene
Pélagie N'Gonana
Charles Ayetan
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Espéra Donouvossi

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