2019 Venice Film Festival Aug. 28-Sept. 9

[Chris Knipp]

More 2019 Venice


KARL LUKE BRUMMER (CENTER) IN MOFFIE

Moffie (Oliver Hermanus) is another new South African film about the country's rampant homophobia, this one by a black director but about the apartheid era whites in the army. "Moffie" means "faggot" in Afrikaans. It is the damning word the lead character, played by Karl Luke Brummer, comes in for. Guardian/Ian Brooks gives it 4/5 stars and calls it a "skilfully tense drama." Etienne Kallos' The Harvesters/Die Stropers, also on this theme which I previewed at the San Francisco Festival earlier, comes out in theaters next week and I'll be reviewing it in full then. Moffie is nominated for the Queer Lion award at Venice. These films show the country's homophobia is as bad as its racism.