Adriaan de la Rey
Director
Moderated
A lamentation on the slow death of a South African rural town, Nthoroane, through an exploration of the myths, disasters, and miracles that surround the town’s history.
2023
Documentary
Feature Film
South Africa
isiZulu, English, Afrikaans
118 minutes
Finished
Raw (Rou), which refers to a ‘process of mourning,’ captures the lives and stories of the residents who remain connected to this place. Through a mix of interviews and observation, the legends and truth of the town converge into a newfound reality, marked by stories of aliens, ancestors, and faith. The film explores the history and politics of Nthoroane, from the forcible evictions of black residents due to a coal mining operation in 1991 to the lore surrounding the spiritual qualities of the landmark ‘SR’ stone initials found on the hill overlooking the town. Raw (Rou) is a lamentation on the remnants of a once-thriving South African town in the face of displacement, decay, and the loss of a way of life.