Watch High Fantasy

High Fantasy is a South African drama film written and directed by Jenna Bass, released in 2017. It tells the story of four friends who embark on a camping trip and mysteriously swap bodies overnight. Their different races and genders provide a unique perspective on the country's social and political issues. The main characters are Lexi (played by Qondiswa James), Xoli (played by Nala Khumalo), Tatiana (played by Francesca Varrie Michel), and Thami (played by Liza Scholtz). They are all college educated and come from different backgrounds but are united in their desire to explore their country's troubled past and present.

The film begins slow, with the four friends talking over each other, laughing, and taking selfies in a car. This sets the tone for their lighthearted camping trip. They're headed to a remote farm, visible in the distance as the car moves through an arid landscape. They pitch their tent, eat dinner, drink, and smoke weed.

The next morning, they wake to discover that they have all swapped bodies. Lexi is now Thami, Xoli is now Tatiana, and so on. The premise is initially played for laughs, as the four friends struggle to get their bearings and understand the extent of the changes. What follows is a series of uncomfortable situations that each character faces while inhabiting someone else's body.

Race and gender play a significant role in the film, providing a commentary on the issues that South Africa is still grappling with after apartheid. The way each person interacts with the world is shaped by their identity, and the film does an excellent job of exploring this theme. The exchanges between the characters are raw, revealing, and often uncomfortable. The script is witty, with snappy one-liners that cut to the bone.

As the plot unfolds, the characters are confronted with various realities of their country's history. One character brings up the subject of reparations and how it might play out in South Africa. Another character confronts the painful legacy of her past, leading to a confrontation that touches on violent acts that still haunt the country. All the while, the tension builds, and it becomes clear that the body swap has awoken deep-seated issues and secrets within each character.

The cinematography is striking, with many scenes filmed in a documentary-style. There are long shots of the surrounding countryside and intimate moments between the characters. The handheld camera work creates a sense of immediacy, and the use of natural light gives the film a raw aesthetic.

High Fantasy is a thought-provoking film that illuminates issues of identity and belonging in South Africa through an engaging body-switching premise. The film offers a fresh perspective on the complex issues that shape the country's social and political landscape. The performances from the cast are all impressive, with each actor bringing something unique to their character. It's a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

High Fantasy is a 2018 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 15 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.8.