SA: Watch Bongeziwe Mabandla’s short film Umntwana Ongaphakathi

15 Aug 2023 - 10:24

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

South African musician Bongeziwe Mabandla has released a film titled Umntwana Ongaphakathi (The Child Inside), a tale of self-discovery and healing, chronicling the poignant journey of the lead character Khumbula played by Mabandla.

A scene from Umntwana Ongaphakathi (The Child Inside). Photo: Supplied

Umntwana Ongaphakathi (The Child Inside) depicts Khumbula’s tumultuous relationship with his inner child within a derelict home and murky tavern. Mabandla’s haunting track ‘Soze’, off his latest album amaXesha, echoes a psychotherapeutic exercise that promotes healing through dialogue with one’s inner child. It is here where love transcends time and self-love is explored introspectively.

“This collaboration was a journey spanning several months, a commitment by Bongeziwe, the writer and director Zee Ntuli, and their team to realise this emotionally resonant narrative,” a statement reads. “The process required a personal introspection from everyone involved, culminating in a film that is emotively raw and brimming with intricate technicality. This depth of feeling is enhanced by the technical facets of filmmaking, emphasising symbolism and emotional impact. His album amaXesha, a meditation on memory, finds its echoes in our film as we delve into the relationship with our past.”

The cinematic landscape depicts Khumbula grappling with his relentless past, spiralling into a whirlpool of self-destruction. Through the raw embodiment of pain, Khumbula and his younger self demonstrate their emotional bond. A cathartic confrontation serves as the culmination of their conflict and reconciliation, which takes viewers into their shared dark recesses.

“Umntwana Ongaphakathi (The Child Inside) is an artistic manifestation of Zee Ntuli’s core belief: the pursuit of beauty within the abyss of darkness, a poetic excavation of our pains and fears to find the dormant beauty within. It's an invitation to an introspective journey, one that we hope will resonate with audiences on a deeply personal level.”

With this culmination, Khumbula and his inner child embark on a path to healing, all while listening to the melodic serenade of maternal love. Even though the narrative is specific in its depiction, it resonates universally, speaking to the struggle to reconcile with our past and seek redemption from it.