Common Sense Media Review
By Stefan Pape
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Moving apartheid drama has hate speech and violence, nudity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
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Moffie
What's the Story?
MOFFIE tells the story of Nicholas van der Swart (Kai Luke Brummer), a teen growing up in South Africa's apartheid, all the while trying to hide the fact that he is gay. When he turns 16 years old, he is forced to serve two years of military service. It's here where he truly understands the reality to the hatred that has torn his nation apart. It also reiterates to him the need to keep his true identity a secret. But then he meets Dylan Stassen (Ryan de Villiers).
Is It Any Good?
This powerful drama is a challenging watch, but it's undoubtedly a rewarding one. There are some scenes in Moffie that are incredibly difficult to sit through. But it's a testament to filmmaker Oliver Hermanus that it never feels gratuitous, or implemented for mere shock value, instead driving the narrative forward, painting a raw, and uncomfortable picture of apartheid in South Africa during the 1980s.
Brummer is brilliant in the lead role, and given there's not much by way of dialogue, what he manages to convey through nuance, and internalized emotions, is impressive to say the least. The movie is immersive too, thanks in part to the wonderful score, which creates an uneasy ambiance. The audience can smell the sweat of the dorm and feel the heat of the climate and atmosphere. This may not be a film you want to see numerous times. But to experience it once, you'll be thankful you did, because it's a powerful piece of cinema deserving of its critical acclaim and multiple high-profile award nominations.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the hateful and strong language used in Moffie. How did it make you feel hearing such vile language used toward gay people and the Black community? Why was including this kind of language important to telling the story?
Discuss the violence in the movie. Did the violent scenes help tell the story in an effective way? How to talk to kids about violence, crime, and war.
Nicholas is secretly gay, unable to come out given the society he lives in. Did you find this surprising? Do you think society has improved in how we treat the LGBTQ+ community, or do you still feel frustrated at the lack of inequality that remains?
How was sex portrayed in the movie? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Were the nude scenes handled sensitively?
What did you know about apartheid in South Africa before watching this movie? What more did you learn from it? Were you shocked that such a cruel regime existed in such recent times? Is it important that we confront situations such as these?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 9, 2021
- On DVD or streaming : April 9, 2021
- Cast : Kai Luke Brummer , Matthew Vey , Ryan de Villiers
- Director : Oliver Hermanus
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Director(s) , Multiracial Movie Director(s)
- Studio : IFC
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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