Black Burns Fast

It’s Luthando’s final year of high school. She and her best friend Jodie, two of the school’s scholarship students, are content to be viewed as studious and chronically uncool. However, the arrival of fiery Ayanda in their class dramatically changes things. Luthando is introduced to the ‘cool’ scholarship set and her rebellious side soon starts to bloom. But what is she meant to do about her confusing feelings for Ayanda? And how is she going to juggle new and old friendships – and those sexual desires – while remaining a top student and ensuring she lives up to her mother’s high expectations of her? Turning high-school movie tropes on their head, Black Burns Fast is a refreshing and creative love letter to queer Black girlhood that announces Asanda as a major new cinematic voice. It’s impossible to leave this film without a broad smile on your face.

Grace Barber-Plentie

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