Black Burns Fast

As most teens will concur, the process of coming of age can be tricky to maneuver through. So imagine what it must be like to add the process of coming out on top of that, an undertaking that can become that much more difficult when it takes place in a less-than-accepting environment. Such is the challenge posed to 17-year-old Luthando (Esihle Ndleleni), a brainy but somewhat geeky student at a prestigious South African all-girls boarding school. She’s a perpetually studious type who doesn’t have much of a social life, let alone dating prospects, opting to spend whatever free time she has with her kindred spirit, Jodie (Mila Smith). But that begins to change when “the new girl” arrives at school – Ayanda (Muadi Ilung), a “transfer” student who exudes a self-assured, charismatic attitude, unfazed by most of what’s going on around her or what others think. In many respects, Ayanda is everything that Luthando isn’t yet wishes she could be. And that includes more than what Luthando initially had in mind: She soon discovers that Ayanda has begun to awaken emotional and sexual urges in her, too – and that the feeling, much to her surprise, is mutual. Thus marks the beginning of a budding same-sex adolescent romance that flies in the face of many of the expectations of the school’s conservative culture. Their relationship nudges Luthando to loosen up, have fun and enjoy life more than ever before. But her changing, increasingly “rebellious” behavior carries consequences, such as snubbing by peers, declining grades, the threatened loss of her hard-won scholarship, and strained relations with Jodie and Luthando's traditionalist single mother. While the narrative of “Black Burns Fast” may echo that of many other girls’ school movies (its lesbian aspect notwithstanding), the inclusion of its colorful, refreshingly delightful production design, inventive cinematography and amusing fantasy sequences gives the film a distinctive, lively vibe, one with broad appeal to viewers of all ages and backgrounds. The picture also eloquently depicts the protagonist’s emergence into the world as a fully fledged individual, not just the surfacing of her hitherto-unexplored sexuality, giving this story an even-handed sense of overall balance. And it’s not all frivolity, pop songs and bubble gum, either, as evidenced by its examination of some of the darker and more serious themes that accompany coming of age and coming out. This charming mix of diverse story threads, distinctive characters and delicious visuals from writer-director Sandulela Asanda makes for a fun-filled, engaging watch unlike most other offerings in the genre of LGBTQ+ cinema. So load up your backpack, grab your cell, secretly swipe a pack of your folks’ smokes and round up your besties for an evening of throwing caution to the wind and spending a fun night at the movies.