South African Film Festival

Prayers for Sweet Waters

Expired May 31, 2023 1:45 PM
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Prayers for Sweet Waters takes us into the lives of three transgender sex workers, Wesley, Gulam and Flavirina. It opens with a heartfelt prayer from Gulam “God we are in pain, why don’t you do something?” Despite facing violence, prejudice and the challenges of the Covid -19 pandemic, Gulam embraces life and is a strong and loving mentor for the younger sex workers. Flavirina fled persecution in Burundi to start a new life in Cape Town, and Wesley left a South African rural village as a teenager. Their courage and honesty make compelling viewing. This documentary is exquisitely and sensitively filmed by Stanford-educated cinematographer Elijah Ndoumbe, who describes himself as a bi-racial, trans, queer person.

  • Year
    2022
  • Runtime
    16 minutes
  • Language
    English, French, Kirundi
  • Country
    United States, South Africa
  • Rating
    15+ Unless accompanied by an adult
  • Social Media
  • Director
    Elijah Ndoumbe
  • Producer
    Naeem Dxvies
  • Cast
    Wes Leal, Flavirina Nana, Gulam Petersen
  • Cinematographer
    Baz Bailey
  • Editor
    Petrus van Staden