State of Violence

• State of Violence is in part the story of Bobeti, a kid from the townships who escaped and now is a bank president, whose success results in his ugly past revisiting him. Subtle hints make it clear that State of Violence bears historical signposts that would play differently in a South African context. Matabane's storytelling mirrors the chaotic, uncertain legacy of black revolutionaries once the fight has been won.

• A tough and dramatically focused South African township revenge tragedy, State Of Violence is a melodramatic but also strongly scripted moral tale. Directed by Khalo Matabane with handheld camera that gives urgency to the story, this well-made film packs an emotional punch. Fana Mokoena provides a stoic, grounded anchor for a narrative about conscience, guilt and the shadows of the past.

• Khalo Matabane’s South Africa-set “State of Violence” is a sturdy and straightforward parable about the way violence becomes an endless cycle unless someone is prepared to put a stop to it. Writer and director Matabane, who clearly knows the terrain and understands the violence that is common in the townships, takes his camera into vivid locations. Ntlatleng makes a credible killer and Chwenenyage’s boyish optimism contrasts nicely with Mokoena’s stern countenance.

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