IFC Films announced today that they are acquiring North American rights to South African Oliver Hermanus’ ravishing queer war film MOFFIE - a UK indie Portobello Productions film - set against the backdrop of the Apartheid-era South African Border War. IFC Films will release the critically acclaimed film in April 2021.
Set in 1981 South Africa, the film centers on closeted 16-year-old Nicholas Van der Swart (Kai Luke Brummer) as he begins the two years of compulsory military service required of all young white South African men, preparing to defend the Apartheid regime on the Angolan war front. The threat of communism and “die swart gevaar” (the so-called black danger) is at an all-time high. But that’s not the only danger Nicholas faces. He must survive the brutality of the army – something that becomes even more difficult when a connection is sparked between him and a fellow recruit.