The edgy and ferocious Knuckle City tracks the lives of two brothers, a professional boxer and career criminal, who take one last shot at living up to their legendary father, who was a boxing champion turned gangster. Dudu and Duke aspire to their father’s choices as we journey with a womaniser in the twilight of his professional boxing career and his younger brother, now a cantankerous wheeler-dealer.
Set in 1994 and fast-tracking to 2019, the then-and-now story takes place in the sprawling Eastern Cape township and boxing Mecca known as Mdantsane. Grappling with the day-to-day struggles and cutthroat boxing circuit, Qubeka’s film captures the town’s scrappy, violent and streetwise atmosphere. As the tagline says “There are 3 ways out of Knuckle City. Through the ring. In the back of a cop car. In a pine box.”
From the South African filmmaker known for being provocative
Director, screenwriter and producer, Jahmil XT Qubeka, erupted onto the scene with Of Good Report, a drama about a tragic affair between a school teacher and pupil that was banned and then subsequently unbanned. He’s recently completed the first series of Blood Psalms, an epic television production centred on ancient African mythology. At the helm of the bold, quirky and vivid adventure drama, Sew The Winter To My Skin, Qubeka went on to direct another official Academy Award submission for South Africa in Knuckle City.
Known for his explosive, provocative and visually striking filmmaking, Qubeka is unleashed in Knuckle City. Capturing fast-paced and explosive style and violence in the vein of Congolese crime thriller, Viva Riva!, it’s the kind of film that takes a bite and never lets go. It’s a personal film for the exciting filmmaker, taking place in his hometown of Mdantsane just 15 kilometres from East London.
Set in the real-life hometown of some of SA’s top fighters
The township is known for producing some of the country’s best boxers in Happy-Boy Mgxaji, Mzimasi Mnguni, Welcome Ncita and Luxolo Galada.
Mdantsane’s fighting spirit can be attributed to its reputation as a tough neighbourhood, burdened by rising crime, sporadic growth and a high level of unemployment.
Referred to as Knuckle City in the title, Mdantsane is essentially a character in the film, giving the ensemble a stomping ground and life-giving backdrop.
Brought to life by supercharged star power
Qubeka shows his flair and supercharges Knuckle City with raw energy, whipping up a dysfunctional frenzy in this stylish crime thriller.
The fast and furious film is characterised by pent up tension and spring-loaded with a male-dominated cast who feed off each other’s machismo. Siv Ngesi’s role as top contender, Goatee, makes him Knuckle City’s unofficial mascot, tapping into a seemingly endless reserve of energy in a comical performance as a future champ. Doing everything in fast-forward, he sets the bar for energy as a prize fighter and actor in a full tilt supporting role.
Intensity is the current of Knuckle City, which flows through the cast who etch out their characters within Mdantsane’s life blood as the medium. Zolisa Xaluva has great presence and was iconic as Black Wyatt Earp in Sew The Winter To My Skin, following it up with an enigmatic turn as legendary father Art Nyakama. Chips off the old block, Dudu and Duke, are played by Bongile Mantsai and Thembikile Komani.
As Knuckle City’s lead, Mantsai is dark, brooding and compelling in spite of his blithe morality. With Dudu as an underdog taking one last shot, the movie has the same atmosphere and electricity as a heist thriller. Duke is a firecracker whose charm follows closely behind his bang. A smooth operator with a knack for high stakes and flirting with just about everything, he captures Qubeka’s quest for quick, stylish, vibrant and violent crime drama. Acting veteran Owen Sejake also deserves a special mention adding gravitas as Bra Links amid a strong collective of performances.
There’s no denying Qubeka’s talent and vision for this gut-busting and intense boxing film, bristling with brutality and style.
The most-awarded film at the 2020 SAFTAs
Knuckle City won six SAFTAs at this year’s awards ceremony, including Best Director and Best Editing. Combining these award-winning storytelling aspects with breathtaking cinematography and a defiant spirit give the coming-of-age film its in-your-face attitude.
It’s surprising that the top award winner didn’t garner a Best Picture nomination despite being South Africa’s official submission for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards. Perhaps the omission is down to criticisms that Knuckle City glorifies toxic masculinity, but one could argue that the film, in fact, offers a critique of toxic masculinity by exposing its destructiveness.
The testosterone-fuelled saga’s aggressive, pumped-up approach may sting more often than it floats, but it’s aiming for raw authenticity in revealing the dysfunction of the real-life birthplace of boxing champs and hardened criminals.
There’s no denying Qubeka’s talent and vision for this gut-busting and intense boxing film, bristling with brutality and style.
