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While You Weren't Looking film image; girl looks down at the hand around her shoulder

The changing landscape of post-Apartheid South African politics and lifestyles is portrayed through three central relationships: a successful Black real estate woman in Cape Town is cheating on her white wife, while their bohemian daughter is dating a gender non-confirming woman in the Khayalitsha township. Meanwhile an ageing gay man goes in a search of one of his former lovers, a former uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) operative who is now a political heavyweight.

Curators’ statement:

South Africa presents an interesting location through which we encounter queer lives. The tension of race and transgressive identities are engaged thematically and geographically in the film. While You Weren’t Looking emphasizes a sentiment that gender and sexuality are important to a certain type of person, but also refuses this sentiment by the introduction of a gender non-conforming character whose appearance disrupts the notion that only certain South Africans can be queer. These tensions are explored through the lives of an older generation that reminisces on the civil rights struggles that have led many parts of South Africa to be a safe queer haven.

Akojo Film Collective

 

An incisive look at different levels of privilege in South Africa’s queer community.

Grethe Kemp, City Press (South Africa)

Through three parallel narratives, a compelling composite of contemporary South African LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) culture emerges, buoyed by immersive cinematography and an open approach to filmmaking.

Kwanele Sosibo, Mail & Guardian (South Africa)

 

Community Partner

UBC Africa Awareness Initiative

Director

Catherine Stewart

Cast

Fezile Mpela, Lionel Newton, Sandi Schultz, Camilla Lily Waldman, Petronella Tshuma, Thishiwe Zuqubu, Terence Bridgett

Credits
Country of Origin

South Africa

Year

2015

Language

In English, Xhosa and Afrikaans with English subtitles

19+
72 min

Book Tickets

Sunday June 29

8:00 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
Book Now

Wednesday July 02

8:30 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre
Book Now

Credits

Producer

Amanda Law

Cinematography

Amelia Henning

Editor

Ronelle Loots

Executive Producer

Nodi Murphy, Sharon Jackson

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