U-Carmen eKhayelitsha (12A)

Opera’s ultimate tale of betrayal, lust and revenge is transplanted to a South African township, and translated into the native Xhosa tongue. Jongikhya is a police officer stationed in the shantytown of Khayelitsha, close to the home of his mother and his widowed sister-in-law, whom he is supposed to marry. During a patrol, Jongikhya meets cigarette factory girl Carmen, who teases him mercilessly and stirs long dormant passions. A chain of events, including an upsetting visit to a witch doctor, brings Jongikhya and Carmen together, then tears them apart as passion spills over into shocking violence.