The Swenkas (2004)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Jeppe Rønde

Writers:

Kim Leona (writer)
Jeppe Rønde (writer)

Release Date:

18 November 2004 (Denmark)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

A documentary on Johannesburg South African men who call themselves "Swenkas" and compete for cash and prizes in an event that's part fashion show, part choreography, and part moral code. |

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Sabelo	...	Himself
Mr. Zulu	...	Himself
Yule Masiteng	...	Storyteller (voice)

Directed by
Jeppe Rønde

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Kim Leona		writer
Jeppe Rønde		writer

Produced by
Anne Diemer	....	producer
Rasmus Thorsen	....	producer

Original Music by
Povl Kristian

Cinematography by
Nic Hofmeyer
Lars Skree
Sebastian Winterø

Film Editing by
Olivier Bugge Coutté

Sound Department
Rune Palving	....	sound engineer

Music Department
Matias La Cour	....	music editor

Production Companies

• Cosmo Film
• Story AB

Distributors

• Cinema Delicatessen (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Det Danske Filminstitut (2004) (worldwide) (theatrical) (festivals)
• Seventh Art Releasing (2005) (USA) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Danida  financing
• Danmarks Radio (DR)  financing
• Det Danske Filminstitut  financing
• Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond  financing

Runtime:

Denmark:72 min | USA:72 min

Country:

Denmark

Language:

English | Zulu

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:Livre

Company:

Cosmo Film

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Smagsdommerne: (#2.16)" (2005)

Utterly unique documentary "fable"

I saw this film at the 2005 Hot Docs festival in Toronto. This film was really unlike any other documentary I've ever seen. The Swenkas are a group of about 20 Zulu men who gather each weekend to "swank": they dress up in fancy suits and jewellery and compete before a judge to see who is the most stylish. Sort of a "Lord of the Bling" (ooh, couldn't resist!). But it's more than just fun for them. Swanking represents self-respect, and these men emphasize certain values such as cleanliness and sobriety. It's as if the old adage "Clothes make the man" has come to life. Even though some may think these men are spending far too much money on their clothes, it seems to have given them the pride they need to be successful in life. Certainly no one in their families complains. Besides, sometimes they compete for large sums of money (or even, now and then, a cow.) The reason the film stands out is the way it has been crafted. Director Rønde uses the framing device of a fictional narrator, an old Zulu vagabond who tells us a bit about the group, but also sets up the dramatic arc of the story: the leader of the Swenkas has just died, and his son is grieving and thinking about abandoning the group. This storyline gives the film the feeling of a fictional film, and at times it's hard to believe that the whole thing isn't carefully scripted.

The director explained afterward that he never told the participants what to say, but that since Zulu culture is built around storytelling and the Swenkas were all used to performing, each participant had no trouble "performing" in the film. But they really were working through a difficult time in the life of their group.

The result is a beautifully shot, and even more beautifully edited film that feels more like a fable. The recurring themes are hope and the relationship between fathers and sons. The director actually told us that this film is the second in a trilogy about faith, hope and love, and I found myself really eager to see the other films. A standard documentary approach, with interviews and such, would have made an interesting film. Jeppe Rønde's unorthodox approach has given us a transcendent one.