The Wound is a character piece that poses pertinent questions about masculinity.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 1, 2021

South Africa's answer to Brokeback Mountain, there is a lot to appreciate and learn from this film.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 3, 2021

A gripping story of traditions, masculinity and homosexuality.

| Sep 2, 2020

Primarily concerning itself with differing notions of masculinity ... The Wound also shows out with its trio of vulnerable, expressive performances.

| Aug 13, 2020

A textured, intimate portrait of how doggedly holding onto archaic traditions allows for the majority to force the marginalized apart.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Oct 10, 2019

Xolani, a South African factory hand of palpable aloneness, leaves the city, as he does each year, bound for the mountainous isolation of the Eastern Cape and an all-male circumcision ceremony.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 7, 2019

A fascinating world through which to examine the deep fragility of masculinity, and it does so with great emotional economy thanks to a strong central performance Touré.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 3, 2019

The agile camerawork, dexterous storytelling, and competent performances helped define the psychological conflicts of the characters.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 29, 2019

John Trengove's feature debut is an emotive and powerful story of intolerance and social stigma in a deeply conservative environment.

| Oct 31, 2018

A refreshing coming of age story from a director who manages to see beyond the controversial subject matter to find the compelling human stories within.

| Oct 8, 2018

A stunning debut from South African filmmaker John Trengove,

| Sep 25, 2018

It's a poignant, insightful mix of belonging and longing, with an underlying sense of danger that leads to a surprising twist.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 27, 2018

A confident debut that questions conservatism in African society, The Wound is lifted by its raw portrayal of three men struggling with their identities, and nearly held down by its last minute attempt at melodrama.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 25, 2018

The initiation, a film directed by John Trengove, exposes with great sensitivity the taboo of homosexuality in Africa and the dangerous ritual of circumcision. [Full Review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 31, 2018

The film surges. Then it simmers. The final terrible reversal may not please everyone, but it certainly leaves you shaking.

| Original Score: 4/5 | May 2, 2018

It's a thoughtful, perceptive, nicely photographed film.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 30, 2018

Overall, [The Wound] is absorbing and visually strong, making it a fruitful way to expand your knowledge of the world.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 30, 2018

It's a fascinating, well-acted look at a rarely explored ritual and the conflict between old and new beliefs and values.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 30, 2018

This is an incredible film. Moving, challenging and thought-provoking narrative, quite simply unmissable.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Apr 30, 2018

John Trengove's tough, beguiling debut looks at what happens when queerness throws a wrench in the rusty machinery of traditional masculinity.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 29, 2018