In Laundry, a black family who runs a local laundry, fights to keep their business (the only black one in a white area) alive, as well as to ensure the safety of their children in apartheid South Africa. Despite the exemptions given to its patriarch, Enoch (Siyabonga Shibe), he still faces violent discrimination in the community. His son, Khuthala (Ntobeko Sishi), fights to pursue create a future for himself as a musician, but must decide the worth of his dreams compared to the well-being of his family.
Director Zamo Mkhwanazi’s, debut feature, Laundry is as stunning as it is heartbreaking, highlighting a harsh truth of our society – now, and definitely of apartheid South Africa and other marginalised communities: the ability to dream is, often times, a luxury. And one that sometimes must be fought for. Khuthala and his family have to actively think about staying alive, which ironically makes it hard to think about/pursue what they want out of said life when they have it. The thought that there are people walking this earth who do not have the time, energy, or freedom to have any dreams is one I think about a lot, and that is very sobering.
But Laundry itself is a call for hope. Mkhwanazi brings 1968 South Africa to life in rich colours and beautifully crafted shots, and employs music to drive the story home which is one of my favourite things a filmmaker can do. There is music in this film that is borne out of a yearning for freedom, and created in a rare space for true self-expression that gave me goosebumps when watching it.
Laundry also has a phenomenal cast. Sishi and Zekhethelo Zondi, who plays the daughter in the family, are standouts to me, both gracefully holding the tension of the innocence of youth and the weight of young people who have to take on more responsibility than normal for the sake of their family.
Laundry is playing at TIFF ’25. For more information, click here.
