Ingoma (2023) review
Ingoma (meaning song) is an ode to the father of its executive producer, director, writer, and supporting actor Kagiso Modupe. The painful consequences of fatherlessness in South Africa form the central theme of this emotive film. The narrative resonates with many experiences I’ve had and those I’ve listened to when speaking with orphaned school children.
Powerful monologues flow beautifully from some of South Africa’s acting royalty. The film does a good job of examining the various perspectives of family and community members affected by the loss of a supportive husband and father. Further, it advocates for the redeeming impact of forgiveness and grace at a personal and societal level.
The pacing is a little slow, with perhaps more words than are needed to make each point. The premise and execution may have benefitted more from being released as a short film, or as a stage production. All but the high-speed foot chase occur in a handful of isolated locations with a limited cast and not too many moving parts.
Still, I felt compelled to finish the film. With less overt repetition, faster pacing, and more space for the audience to think about the lessons of each scene, the film could evoke a stronger response from disaffected young men who have lost their way. As for me, I wished that I’d been immersed in Ingoma as a play at the Market Theatre rather than watching it on Netflix on my tiny laptop screen.
I had the pleasure of sending my review to the creators of the show. It’s encouraging to know that this is only the beginning for the team who look to create more uplifting stories about daily African struggles. To Kagiso Modupe, Vanessa Tloubatla, Nthati Moshesh and the stellar cast and crew, we can’t wait to hear the melody of your next project!
