When the SA Film and Television Awards’ (Safta) nominees for the 13th season were named last week, New Brighton’s Zolisa Xaluva was faced with the news of receiving his first nod.
Xaluva is nominated in the best supporting actor in a feature film category for his portrayal of Black Wyatt Earp, a black policeman working for the government in the 1950s rural SA in the film Sew the Winter to My Skin.
Directed by the Eastern Cape’s Jahmil XT Qubeka, and mostly shot in the province, it is based on the story of legendary Somerset East outlaw John Kepe and has already received critical acclaim since premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2018 and officially representing SA at the Oscars.
The actor chats about his nomination, connecting with his audience and more.
Your character, Black Wyatt Earp, is a black enforcer serving at the pleasure of the oppressor. How else would you describe him?
He is a man who trained as a policeman and committed himself to the oath he took.
Which of Earp’s qualities did you admire and enjoy portraying?
The man was a natural-born leader; a strong-willed character with incredible follow-through. He was not afraid to make decisions no matter how unpopular they may be. I also found him brave and fearless.
What does this nomination mean to you?
It means a lot to be validated by your own peers. These are people who have full comprehension of what it means to be an actor, so it makes me feel very proud and extremely honoured. I was quite ecstatic at the news, overwhelmed with joy.
You have played ‘the bad guy’ in other productions. How is Earp different?
Every character is different, with different personalities and traits. I wouldn't say I did anything extraordinary from a preparation point of view, all I did was seek to understand him. He is a standout character who is difficult to ignore because he constantly makes the audience feel something and those feelings are visceral, deep and excruciatingly painful.
Did the fact that the film is based on a true Eastern Cape story contribute towards your understanding of what was required of the character?
In order to understand hatred you need to understand love, as an actor anyway, it doesn't matter where one comes from.
Coming from the Eastern Cape did help to some extent because it’s where I first encountered segregation, inequality and the fear enforced on us by the old regime.
I know the smell of tear gas, those police trucks we used to call Mellow Yellows and the brown military trucks with armed soldiers from New Brighton, where I grew up.
From a research point of view the TRC helped a lot, Joe Mamasela and others provided useful info that helped me gain a deeper understanding of this Askari type character.
In the ’80s there was a man known as Thungatha who allegedly terrorised his own people to assist apprehend and torture comrades, so there was an individual I could draw inspiration from.
Lastly, being a descendant of the Goniwe family made me understand the pain inflicted on families by the likes of Black Wyatt Earp.
You’ve said, after the film premiered in Toronto, that your character made the choices he did because “the most important thing for him was survival at the time”. Did any of his actions or choices prompt you to introspect in any way?
No self-respecting black man would have done what he did, in my opinion. I feel his choice was cowardice and is not worthy of my admiration.
He felt that working against his people was the key to his survival, he had no sense of community, love and compassion.
Earp thought the regime would rule forever and sought to position himself favourably.
I needed no self introspection afterwards because my personal philosophy has always been clear and it is as solid as it was going in.
Director Jahmil says he had you in mind from the minute he created the Earp character. What were your first thoughts about Earpwhen you were introduced to the character?
We were busy shooting a series called Hustle and towards the end of that production he made mention of the film and that he wanted me to play Kepe but soon realised that Earp was more suitable for me.
I immediately fell in love with him. I thought his mind was interesting and he fed my appetite for characters who go against the grain.
I have a fascination for thought provoking stories and characters so he played right into my hands.
The film has achieved critical success in a short space of time. How does it feel to be part of it?
I'm having a terrific time! I knew this film was extraordinary from the onset.It was going to be a western-type story with no dialogue and right then I knew we were onto something.The international recognition has put a magnifying glass on the art of filmmaking in SA and we covet more opportunities.It’s been fun travelling the world and meeting great actors and filmmakers around the globe. To be part of it all feels very special and reassuring that international success is imminent.
Qubeka, who also hails from the Eastern Cape, feels humbled after the film received several Safta nominations, including Best Achievement in Directing and Best Feature Film.
How do you feel about how well the film has been received since its premiere?
I am deeply humbled by the film’s success although, when I make a film, I don’t make it with awards in mind. I just tell a story because I want to tell it. Films have their differences and it’s quite difficult to rate them in terms of competition but I do value this competition and that it brings focus to the film.
You have made several films that garnered attention internationally and on a local scale. Is there one you feel has done better than all?
It’s kind of hard to tell because there are so many different awards one can get on different scales, and the trajectory of films is very different, so you can’t really point to one and say it has received more attention.
Why is the film titled ‘Sew The Winter to My Skin’?
‘Sew The Winter To My Skin’ alludes to a state of reflection. The film is a love letter to SA and the experience of being a South African with all of its pain. The title leads to apartheid as our darkest period – our winter but I wouldn’t change it for anything because I think it’s made us who we are... We wear it as our blanket and sew it to our skin so we can remember it and appreciate the people we have become now.
What made you think Zolisa would be the right person to portray Black Wyatt Earp?
I respect Zolisa as an actor and I’ve worked with him in the past, so when I wrote the character I had him in mind, plus being from the region where the film is set, I knew he would be able to draw from some things.
Sew the Winter to My Skin is showing at the Boardwalk and Baywest.