Docspace Monthly Films









































The Swenkas
Dir: Jeppe Rønde
Denmark, 2004, 72 mins, Col/B&W

This documentary is a portrait of the Swenkas, a small group of working men in post-apartheid South Africa. Men who take great pride in putting on a flashy suit and stand out as an inspiration for others.



 

Men who every Saturday night leave their grimy overalls behind and wear their best Carducci or Pierre Cardin suits to impress the weekly selected judge. But the group has to restructure when after their leader's demise, they have to find a new chief. Slowly the deceased leader's son, 31 year old Sabelo is being prepared to follow in his father's footsteps.

The film shows how the 'dressing up' is an integrated part of their spiritual and mental life - past, present and future.