Quizzical Pictures presents Lunga Shabalala (Sandile), Duduzile Nglobo (Bongakaile), Zenelisphesihle Sparky Xulu (Menzi), Ray Neo Buso (Sky), Motsoaledi Setumo (Sente), Montedebo Romodibe (Dina), Sihle Ndaba (Penny) Skhumba Hlophe (Lunga), Didintle Khunou (Kelze), Monye Knupi (Bridgette. Director, Rolisizwe Nikiwe; Screenplay, Darrel Bristow-Bovey, Zelipa Zulu; Executive Producers, Harriet Gavshon, Odirile Mekwa, JP Potgierla; Producer, Siphiwe Hlabangane; Director of Photography, Kabelo Thathe. © 2024.
The producers of Soweto Love Story assert their narrative draws inspiration from Naija Christmas (2021). The similarities are so striking that one might wonder about potential legal implications. The distinctiveness of Soweto’s approach piqued my interest. Having previously reviewed How to Ruin Christmas (2012) and published 6 Hours to Christmas (2021), pp. 15-18 Nollywood Movie Reviews Vol 1, I was initially passive about these Christmas-themed projects. However, Soweto Love Story managed to captivate my attention. Both Naija Christmas and Soweto Love Story revolve around family property inheritance. The narratives are strikingly similar, featuring characters like Enforcers–Tony Torpedo (Lateef Adedimeji) in Naija Christmas–he fits the part–and Lunga (Skhumba Hlophe) in Soweto–Sandile’s humbug.
South African drama tells stories of a sure and steadfast British drama style. They tell stories clothed with flesh and more flesh than bones and in the structure and form of their colonial British forefathers. I love it, and I revel in it. The chaos you see in Naija cools off in Soweto. Mrs. Ngubeni in Soweto has three boys: Sandile (Lunga Shabalala), a wannabe recording artist in a beleaguered relationship with Sente (Motsoaledi Setumot). She finds a brazier in the back seat of Sandile’s car, which starts the ruckus between them. Sky (Neo Buso) is a fashionista whom everyone thought was gay because of his feminine demeanor and couture. He manages to bring a fake friend girl to meet the family. A lesbian, as another girl would walk up on her during Ngubeni family lunch and burst her bubble.
Menzi (Sparky Zulu), the oldest of Mrs. Ngubeni’s boys, is an unmarried owner of Songbird restaurant. He is afraid of commitment and, in fact, the world. The only place he finds solace and joy is his restaurant kitchen. It is a funny scene when a tattoo-ridden Bohemian cultured woman, Dina (Montedebo Romodebe), employs herself in his kitchen as a chef.
Mrs. Ngubeni’s three boys must marry by Christmas. The first person to marry must own the family home. Menzi takes out a loan on the house to extend his restaurant. Sky is using the basement of the house for a studio. Sandile takes out a loan to buy more instruments for his music production business but does not meet his payment on the loan. Hence, taunted and humbugged by the enforcer, Lunga. Menzi is not good with women yet wants to claim the house at all costs. The race for who gets married first sets in. Sandile’s invitation to the family to his engagement with Sente at Menzies Songbird restaurant is canceled when Sente, perchance, finds a brazier in Sandile’scar.
Mezi is finding it difficult to find a girlfriend, lest a fiancé present to the ever-demanding mother for a daughter-in-law with an expectant grandchild. Then, he hires an out-of-the-way, tattoo-ridden body young woman named Dina (Montedebo Romodibe) as a chef in his kitchen. Dina finds Mezi a lady friend, Penny (Sihle Ndaba). Penny’sface is like a triangle with a long chin turned upside down. Mean looking. Her approach to Menzi is more mechanical than romance. On the first date with Menzi, she presents a long list of conditions she wants in a lover, such as bathing twice a day, needing three children, and “performing all duties required as an active participant in the relationship.” Mezi signs the marriage contract, as Penny shoves it in his face and gives him a French kiss. Come to find out, she’s more militant than romantic, and that puts fear in Menzi.
Meanwhile, Sandile’s humbug, Lunga, repossesses furniture and electronic gadgets in Sandile’s apartment. He had just cut a beautiful song with his partner Kelze (Didintle Khunou) when Lunga seized his computer, leaving him heartbroken. Mezi has inwardly found friendship in Dina. He believes that’s not fake and, therefore, entrusts her. By Christmas, there is a turn of the tide for Mrs. Ngubeni’sboys: Lunga surprises Sandile; his recorded tape on the computer becomes a Christmas sensation in Soweto, and he booked Sandile and Kelze for a year-long tour of Dubai, Europe, and America.
Sky is in the back of the church, smooshing Lemogang (N’kone Mametja), not noticing their moaning sound reaching the congregation. You should see everyone’s face shocked as the two are caught in each other’s arms. More surprising is Dr. Khumalo (Terrence Ngwila), who is LLemogang’s intended husband. To break the ice, sky addresses everybody in the room: “You know what? I don’t care what you all say…. Mom, I’m sorry you had to find out like this…. I love Lemogang. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.” Just as Mrs. Ngubeni is relieved that her son isn’t gay, so angry is Dr. Khumalo: “Thought you were gay!”
Sente learns from Lemogang that she left her brazier in the back seat of Sandile’s car. Knowing Sandile is on his way to board a plane for the tour with Kelze, she takes an Uber to the airport to reconcile with him.
Menzi tears the agreement he signed with Penny, claiming force majeure, rushes after Dina, and sings for her on a glorious New Year’s Eve. And when he stands on the stage to sing to Dina, no matter how off-cord he sings, it pleases him to report to the world that his true love isn’t Penny but Dina. Sky and his passion, Lomogang, are there. Sandile and Sente are arm in arm, and their mother, Mrs. Ngubeni, is present to support Mezi and Dina. Mrs. Ngubeni was eventually happy that all her boys finally had reliable partners she could rely on. When the boys gather around her on New Year’s Eve, it is no wonder that Mrs. Ngubeni nominates Sandile to own the property; Sandile, in turn, nominates Menze. But Menze, in turn, “No-no-no-no-no-no. Mom keeps the house. That way, the house will always be home for all of us.”
Sky, “Get so inspiring, my brother. IIt’sokay, okay.”
Mrs. Ngubeni raises her face to the sky.
“Thank you, Jesus.”
The most philosophical point and scene in A Soweto is when Sandile and Kelze are nearly burnt out at the recording studio and about to call it off. Sandile barges into Kelze’sboot, holds her close, breathes in her face, and tells her some wisdom for all artists.
Sandile, “Kelze, I know you. You have it in you. I promise you; you have it in you…. You (he sighs). You need to find the thing you fear…and touch it.”
Kelze, “What is that?”
“We’re all afraid of something, right? Whatever that thing is to you, could you find that thing here? (touches her chest, right between the breasts). Touch it and tell the story.”
Mrs. Ngubeni’s”hree musketeers have all come around with trustworthy relationships: Sandile and Sente are set to go to the altar; Sky is going steady with Lemogang, and Mezi and Dina are together taking care of Songbird restaurant, creating a new menu (love). The wishes of Mrs. Ngubeni are to love the partners for her boys and for them to see true happiness. Just as Mrs. Ngubeni goes into oblivion, satisfied that her boys are left with trustworthy partners, we, the audience, go home satisfied that A Soweto Love Story is worth its salt. So, grab a popcorn or a beer and knock yourself out in the company of The Soweto Love Story.