Wild Coast mining film an international hit

The Shore Break, a documentary film made by two South African women, is gaining international attention with its unique story based on two cousins divided by a proposed titanium mine in their village on the Wild Coast. By Lubabalo Ngcukana

Xolobeni is situated on the outskirts of Mbizana in the Eastern Cape. The proposed mining of the red Khwanyana Beach dunes has not only divided this poor community, but has pitted cousins Nonhle Mbuthuma and Zamile Qunya against one another.

Mbuthuma, an ecotour guide in the Wild Coast area that includes Xolobeni, is a fierce opponent of the mine. She was instrumental in the establishment of a crisis group opposed to the plan.

Qunya is a local businessman and a strong supporter of mining the dunes. He wants the mining investment so that it can help unlock the economic potential of the people of Xolobeni and create jobs.

It is this unique story and against this backdrop that the makers of The Shore Break decided to create a documentary based on an issue that is dividing the people of Xolobeni, with Mbuthuma and Qunya featuring prominently.

The movie, directed and co-produced by Ryley Grunenwald and Odette Geldenhuys, is proving to be an international success. It has had screenings around the world and has started a dialogue about the dilemma faced by the Xolobeni community.

The movie took three years to make and was only completed last year.

South Africa's Wild Coast is my favourite place in the world. It has a rugged, mysterious beauty, and our family has been visiting there for years. When I heard about the proposed mining and toll road through the area, I could only imagine the extent of the environmental destruction of this pristine area, Grunenwald said of her inspiration to make the film.

I met Nonhle Mbuthuma, who is a leader in her community, on one of my trips there. When I found out that her archenemy in favour of the developments was her own cousin [Zamile Qunya] and that the South African government had dethroned environmentally conscious King Mpondombini Sigcau, it felt like something out of Shakespeare. I had to make a film about it.

Grunenwald said that during the early stages of her research and in the time she spent with Mbuthuma, she was only aware of how the titanium mine and highway threatened whatever was in their pathway in the community, including the pristine environment and the community's way of life.

But when she met Qunya, she was exposed to another perspective.

He [Qunya] pointed out things that I couldn't deny: the Wild Coast's dire need for more schools, hospitals and employment. He believed large-scale development was the only hope for change. On the other hand, Nonhle wanted development that would last longer than the 25-year life span of the mine.

She believed alternative development, such as expansive ecotourism, could develop the area without the community having to give up their land and livelihood. Throughout production, I kept changing my mind as to who was more right' about the development of the Wild Coast. The complexity intrigued me and I wanted to allow the audience to see things from both sides, Grunenwald said.

The Shore Break recently won the Backsberg Audience Choice Award at the 2015 Encounters SA International Documentary Festival, and was also named best documentary at the 2015 International Environmental Film Festival in Paris.

The film will feature at the Durban International Film Festival from July 16 to 26.

It was also screened at the Sydney Film Festival last month, and has already been screened at the Millenium Documentary Film Festival 2015 in Belgium and Hot Docs 2015 in Canada.

Grunenwald said the film had been well received all over the world, including in this country, where many people are able to relate to the story because they know the Wild Coast well.

In Cape Town, it sold out shows, and extra screenings had to be added in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. I am currently in France and people can't stop talking about the film, she said.

Qunya told City Press he was disappointed that at the end of the documentary, the film makers decided to take sides.

It's a distortion of information. They are biased and selective. When the film was made, they only told me it was just for information. My views in the film are confined and restrained, while Nonhle has been given free reign to say all that she wants. Most of what I said has been edited out, Qunya said.

Mbuthuma was not available for comment.

Co-producer Geldenhuys, a human rights lawyer, said she was disappointed that Qunya felt his voice had been edited out because he had plenty of opportunities to speak out, just as Mbuthuma had.

It's not true that we took sides. I wish Mr Qunya could raise these issues with us directly. I feel disappointed and saddened he feels this way. My sense is that people don't know what goes into the making of a documentary film like this, and that when it does not come out the way they hoped, they become disappointed, she said.

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