Elelwani – Construction of South African Identities:
Elelwani – Directed by Ntshavheni wa Luruli, released in 2012.
Precis:
A romantic dark comedy about a young woman, Elelwani, who has just graduated
from university and is planning to continue her studies in the US, and build a happily-
ever-after with her beau, Vele.
Her father will not tolerate this.
In his culture-tainted view, his daughter is betrothed to the King, her benefactor who
paid for her education.
Elelwani resists until her younger sister is chosen to replace her.
She decides to go through with the marriage in order to protect her sister.
Upon arrival at the King’s palace, Elelwani discovers deception and power-play, with
the real king imprisoned in a forbidden hut and his insufferable sister ruling the roost.
Elelwani helps the real king, and he bequeaths the kingdom to her on his deathbed.
Ntshavheni wa Luruli:
Desired to celebrate black South African authors who have written and published their
stories in indigenous languages.
Advances the vision of education of women as the novelist Maumela intended to do.
Creation of a film that portrays the experiences of women.
Does not present us with a romantic obsession with Africa’s past – no exoticism.
Questions to ask:
Does the film succeed in eschewing the ethnographic gaze?
Repeat or repeal the limits of ethnography?
Construction of identity in the film?
Women as power-brokers?
Figures of empowerment or disempowerment?
Culture as a sight of empowerment or disempowerment?
Film techniques?
Editing:
Opens with a flash-forward – the interior scene of the royal dwelling that will re-
appear towards the closing of the film.
o Introduces Elelwani in terms of her identity and destiny.
Parallel editing with cross-cutting during the graduation ceremony:
o Focus on Elelwani having a conversation with her friend, then cross-cutting to
Madzwara.
Flashback:
o When her father gives her a royal necklace as a gift – destiny.
o When Madzwara informs her of the past and of her destiny.
o Past/future are illuminated.
Narrative of prophesy – events foretold, and narration of the past.
The editing matches this forward-looking impulse and history/memory.
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