You can now watch a trailer of The Wound, a South African film that aims to challenge narrow depictions of African masculinity. The film, which will premiere at Sundance Film Festival (January 19 to 29) in Utah, USA, stars soul singer Nakhane Touré and actor Bongile Mantsai, winner of a 2011 Fleur Du Cap award for best supporting actor in the play Woyzeck.

On the trailer of The Wound, we see Kwanda, a gay young man played by Bongile, struggling to say “Ndiyindoda” – “I’m a man” with accepted conviction, resulting in him being labelled soft. Xolani, played by Nakhane, becomes close to Kwanda. Kwanda figures out that he’s also gay. “I can see what you are. But you can’t admit it,” he tells him on one scene.

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The Wound is directed by the Joburg-based filmmaker John Trengrove, who also directed the movie Ibhokwe, which also revolves around initiation. The script was co-written by Thando Mgqolozana (author of the book A Man Who Is Not A Man) and Malusi Bengu.

You can watch the trailer of the film below.