Moffie has arrived on VOD platforms and in select theaters: Is it worth watching?

The critically acclaimed film Moffie is set in early 1980’s South Africa and there is a lot of history to know before we get into the story. First, apartheid was alive and well at the time, this was South Africa’s version of segregation so racial tensions were high.

Specifically, there was tension at the border between South Africa and Angola, and all white males over the age of 16 were required to do two years of military service to fight against “die swart gevaar” (the black danger).

Moffie follows Nicholas van der Swart (Kai Luke Brummer) as he leaves his family to go fight at the border. It’s not just the war that Nicholas has to fear though. His sexuality is in question and that is not just frowned upon but illegal. The military makes it clear how they feel about “Moffies” (a slur used against gay men) so Nicholas is fighting a many-sided battle.

For the entirety of Moffie, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of dread. Every moment from the train ride into the military camp onward you’re just waiting for something bad to happen. Is this the moment that he is exposed? Is someone going to be injured or killed here? Even a moment of levity doesn’t truly allow you to breathe because you’re simply waiting for the next shoe to drop. Because of this, I had a hard time enjoying the ride but I still appreciated the movie.

Moffie is the type of movie critics will love because it makes you uncomfortable without going out of its way to do so. You feel how Nicholas feels. He’s terrified.

Not only do you know he doesn’t believe in the war effort he’s being forced to support but you can see that he has feelings for one of the other guys and you know what will happen if he gets caught. Director Oliver Hermanus gets the most out of his lead in this beautifully shot, yet brutally intense movie. One that you can’t truly appreciate until you’ve made it to the end.

Moffie is a tense film that doesn’t allow you to breathe until the very end

Because of all of this, I cannot say that this movie is going to be for everybody. It is beautifully shot, authentic, well-acted, and has solid pacing but the overwhelming sense of dread will be offputting to most viewers. This is definitely a movie for someone looking to watch an art piece rather than someone looking to be entertained.

Moffie was a festival darling, being nominated for a myriad of awards at the Venice Film Festival, London Film Festival, Dublin International Film Festival, and several others. Moffie‘s writer/producer Jack Sidey was nominated for a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) this year for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer Director, or Producer. There is no doubting that the film is a brilliant work, but you definitely should know what you are getting into.

Moffie is being distributed through IFC Films and will be released in select theaters as well as VOD platforms this weekend. It is being praised for centering an LGBTQ+ story in a war landscape in a sensitive and thoughtful way and it definitely handles its subject matter well. The more time I put between the viewing and my reflection, the more I am appreciating the film.

You can watch Moffie this weekend on VOD, and check a theater near you for a showing.