Spirits of the Land
Mathonga Elizwe
Screenings – Jozi
In 1996, Nelson Mandela introduced land reform laws, offering land tenants the chance to reclaim land lost through colonialism and apartheid. Nearly 10,000 applications failed, with many vanishing without a trace. Spirits of the Land explores the enduring legacy of colonialism and land dispossession in South Africa, tracing three unresolved land claim disputes in Hilton and Koubad (KwaZulu-Natal), and Wakkerstroom (Mpumalanga). The film documents the enduring challenges faced by black land tenants, often facing harassment, threats and violence on white-owned farms. With South Africa marking 31 years of democracy, the film offers a critical reflection on justice, restitution and dignity, as generations of dispossession have fractured agricultural practices, restricted livestock management, and hindered traditional burial customs. Spirits of the Land navigates the deep-rooted ties between poverty, inequality, and land, acting as a powerful reflection on memory, resistance, and the ongoing struggle for freedom in a democratic society.
Film Stills
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