The subject of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI) may still be taboo and considered blasphemy in some parts of South Africa but the urgency to address the hardships endured by these people can no longer be evaded, said filmmaker Mthokozisi Lembethe.
Lembethe has thus taken it upon himself to ensure that this sensitive topic is no longer swept under the rug. Utilising the knowledge acquired from the Entertainment Technology course he studied at DUT and the learnership programme offered at Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking, Lembethe shot a 16-minute documentary (Paving Forward) aimed at effecting changes in LGBTI rights.
“It doesn’t help being silent about issues that affect people. I challenge society to debate about these untold stories. My aim is to share these stories to the world so we can all learn from each other; so we can understand each other better,” said the filmmaker.
Paving Forward has shown at the Out in Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. It is the sole South African documentary selected to screen at the Durban Gay and Lesbian Film festival, which will be held at the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts (KZNSA) Gallery from 18 to 28 May.
The not-to-be-missed documentary reflects on the road travelled in recognising LGBTI rights in South Africa, with a specific focus on Nosipho Mahola’s experiences as a professed lesbian. It also looks at the role political figures play in perpetuating homophobia and pays homage to the activists.
“From shooting this film I learnt that LGBTI people are still not free to live their lives without society being negative towards them. There are so many more stories to tell. We have a long road to travel still,” Lembethe said. He acknowledged the vital role played by the production team, Thabo Tlomatsana, Jason Storey, Nompumelelo Ndlovu and Thami Mahlobo.
Lembethe believes he has a social responsibility as a filmmaker to “be the voice of the people and tell stories that will create a change in society”. He has, during the the past two years, shot 11 film projects. This young man said he will stop at nothing to make his mark in the film industry.
–Naledi Hlefane
Caption: Taken from Mthokozisi Lembethe’s documentary Paving Forward, this scene shows lesbian mom Nosipho Mahola with her family.
