Prayers for Sweet Waters is an emotional documentary film that portrays the lives of three transgender sex workers living in Cape Town as they make their way through life amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Wes Leal, Gulam Petersen, and Flavirina Nana’s stories are intertwined across their unique experiences, the surreal imagery and moving music.
The short documentary film, directed by Elijah Ndoumbe, was screened at the Neelsie Cinema on 11 and 14 September as part of the Neelsie Cinema Film Festival. The festival formed part of the 2022 Toyota US Woordfees.
Directed by Elijah Ndoumbe, Prayers for Sweet Waters is an emotional short film that portrays the lives of three transgender sex workers living in Cape Town as they make their way through life amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The short film was screened at the Neelsie Cinema on 11 and 14 September as part of the Neelsie Cinema Film Festival. The festival formed part of the 2022 Toyota US Woordfees. PHOTO: Supplied/Elijah Ndoumbe
Opening with a prayer
The documentary opens with Gulam Petersen praying. “God, we are in pain; why don’t you do something?” she pleads.
Petersen’s prayer highlights the plight of transgender sex workers in South Africa. Petersen reflects on her past and the wisdom she has gained, despite the violence and ostracisation she has experienced.
The love Petersen has for others, despite her life experiences, is admirable. “I love myself deeply. That is why I have so much love to share,” she remarks in the documentary.
The found family trope
Wes Leal’s story demonstrates that finding support and family in online spaces is possible.
Leal, who identifies as a man and uses ‘they/him’ pronouns, considers an American-based former truck driver one of their most loyal clients. Although Leal knows very little about the man, they are grateful for the support. “He offers me more emotional support than I could ever ask for,” they explain in the short film.
Leal has also found a support system within the sex worker community. “It is a very tight knit, very open and very caring community,” they add.
Found family, religion and crossing borders are some of the topics explored in Elijah Ndoumbe’s Prayers for Sweet Waters. This emotional short documentary portrays the lives of three transgender sex workers living in Cape Town as they make their way through life amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Morgan Page, a writer, artist and historian, watched the documentary at Sundance Film Festival and thought it was “beautifully shot”. PHOTO:Takudzwa Pongweni
Crossing borders
One of the most memorable individuals in the documentary is Flavirina Nana, a transgender Burundian refugee seeking safety in South Africa. Nana relocated to Cape Town over a decade ago, fleeing persecution in her home country.
While transphobic violence is present in various parts of the world, including Cape Town, Nana believes she can live her truth in Cape Town. “Before now, I wasn’t how I am. Now I am as I wish to be,” she states in the documentary.
Wes Leal, Gulam Petersen, and Flavirina Nana’s stories portrayed in Prayers for Sweet Waters. “Through sex work I have been able to love my body again,” says Leal in the documentary. PHOTO:Takudzwa Pongweni
Scope for more
Despite its excellent cinematography and gripping narrative, the documentary’s 16-minute run time does not allow the audience to fully engage with the vivid and personal truths of the three characters as they navigate life in the mother city.
Instead, viewers are only provided with a brief glimpse into the complicated and nuanced characters.
Nana’s relationship with her mother, the conflicts Petersen faces as a sexually liberated transgender woman in the church, and Leal’s online relationships are aspects of each individual’s reality that would have been served better by a longer format.
A picture is worth a thousand words in this documentary, as there are moments when the visuals paint a better picture than the dialogue.
While the documentary is beautifully shot, it lacks the coherent direction and depth for a subject matter that necessitates both.