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| Abafana Emadwaleni | |
|---|---|
 Original Release Poster | |
| Directed by | Ndabanigi Moyo |
| Produced by | Domiso Ncube |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Amabharethi Ansundu |
Production company | Omakadebona Isitudiyo Samafilimu |
Release date | 2017 |
Running time | 136 Minutes |
| Country | M'Biruna |
| Language | M'Bweni |
| Budget | 180,000,000 Imali |
| Box office | 466,000,000 Imali |
Abafana Emadwaleni (The Boys in The Rocks) is a 2017 M'Birunan war film charting the events of the 1998 Ikwelo Offensive during the M'Birunan Civil War and the subsequent perceived mistreatment and betrayal of the veterans of that conflict by the government. The film was directed by Ndanbanigi Moyo, a veteran of the conflict, and funded by various veterans associations. It was shot on location on the M'Birunan/Agysimban border in the Mtshelelele Hills. The soundtrack was produced by Amabharethi Ansundu (The Brown Berets) a popular M'Birunan band formed by veterans of the civil war.
While officially condemned by the M'Birunan government as "anti-national propaganda" the film was widely popular on release in M'Biruna and was also released to popular acclaim in Agysimba. The film also received a limited international release and was entered into Ostrozava's Karsko Film Festival. The film was well received by critics, but failed to win any national awards as government pressure was exerted on awarding committees.
Plot
Cast
Guseni Tsvangarai as Lieutenant Bonginkosi "Umlwi" Khumalo, a veteran officer of the elite paracommandos entrusted with the new recruits and tasked with capturing the Agysimban strongpoint on Mzilikazi Hill.
Tangi Zvogbo as Sergeant Major Sfiso Ndlovu, a battle hardened soldier who hates the new recruits replacing his fallen soldiers and treats them harshly throughout their training. Zvogbo was himself a veteran and said he based his performance off his own drill instructor.
Tukai Karanga as Buhle Khumalo, the wife of Tsvangarai's character who has to support her husband in the aftermath of the war.
Mandla Mpufo as Veterans Minister Thando Mnangagwa, a corrupt official who denies the survivors their pensions and other benefits. The character of Mnangagwa was widely assumed to be based on real politician Kagiso Ntini who sued the producers after the films release.
Mkahaya Hlabangane as Private Langa Sibandi, the only volunteer amongst the conscripts who finds himself an outcast amongst his comrades and increasingly disillusioned with the war as he sees through his governments propaganda.
Additional characters were played mainly by veterans of the civil war and their families, a move praised by critics for improving the realism of the battle scenes.
Production
Release
Abafana Emadwaleni premiered in 2017, and was later released internationally. In 2019 March, Omakadebona Isitudiyo Samafilimu sold the Oxi-Rezese distribution rights to Qipie Pinpin, a Scipia-oriented division of Entratenimezun Balam, the largest film studio under the Entratenimezun Cazini crivikeze umbrella. Qipie Pinpin released the film in Oxidentali theaters in 2019 October as Omode k'Ikwelo (Children of Ikwelo) with dubbing and subtitling in the Rezese language, as well as with subtitles in Mutli and Latin.