The humble Cape Flats swirlkous is making its movie debut this weekend.
Everyone who has ever had issues with their hare and made use of this miracle styling tool is invited to step into the world of Elaine, who dreams of opening her own salon, but has some hard choices to make.
Swirl is the brainchild of writer and director Quanita Adams, who says her own experience with the swirlkous is woven into her debut movie.
Quanita says: “Swirl is a love letter to hair, particularly hair on the Cape Flats.
“And even though it tells one young woman’s story, really it’s all our story.
“It’s about our grandmothers, mothers and daughters. It explores ideas around ‘good hair’ and looking ‘decent’.”
One of Quanita’s stand-out features is a beautiful head of curls and she says: “My hair is my politics, my feminism, my fashion, my vanity, my defiance, my identity, my defence, my everything and my nothing in particular… it’s complicated!
“But these stories need to be told and this is just one; I really hope that it starts conversations.”
The film features a stellar cast, including Chanelle Davids, Vinette Ebrahim, Shaleen Surtie Richards, Ilse Klink, Bianca Flanders, Basil Appollis, Maurice Carpede and Aisha Nel.
Quanita adds: “From quite early on, I started writing with specific actors in my head. I had my dream cast before I even finished writing.”
Chanelle plays the lead role of Elaine Williams.
Motivated by her frustrations with her own hair at an early age, Elaine becomes a stylist who learns all the tricks in the book on how to keep managing stoute hare.
So excited to finally be able to share this!
Posted by Quanita Adams onWednesday, March 17, 2021
But trends in haircare see a dramatic shift towards embracing natural hair, and Elaine finds herself drawn to this new wave.
Chanelle says: “The swirlkous is still part of my life and I still use it, I have to use it when my hair is blow-dried.
“But the swirlkous does not define me anymore.
“I really hope that watching the movie will encourage others to embrace who they are in all aspects as this movie is way more than just about hair.”
Catch Swirl on Sunday at 8pm on kykNET & kie, DStv channel 145, and it will also be available on Showmax.