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Four Corners

Name: Four Corners
Director: Ian Gabriel
Released: 2014
Duration: 114 min

Representation Score

5.6/10

Fair

2014

TV-MA

Director

Ian Gabriel

Runtime

114 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Four Corners stands out for its localized storytelling, emphasizing racial and cultural authenticity through indigenous dialects and a Black-centric perspective. However, the film's narrow focus on hyper-masculine social structures limits its gender and LGBTQ+ representation. Despite this, it offers a strong critique of systemic failures and socioeconomic limitations, making it a powerful socio-political commentary on gang culture.

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Category Breakdown

Does Four Corners have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film centers on hyper-masculine gang hierarchies and lacks queer narratives or non-traditional gender identities.

How does Four Corners portray gender?

Limited

It focuses on male characters, with females playing minor roles or being absent, lacking significant influence or ability to act.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Four Corners?

Excellent

The film highlights the Cape Flats experience authentically, using specific dialects like Sabela and Tsotsi-taal to emphasize its Black-centric setting.

How does Four Corners represent religion and culture?

Good

The story critiques systemic failures and the tension between personal aspirations and socioeconomic limits, offering a nuanced look at traditional social structures.

Does Four Corners include disability representation?

Minimal

Characters with visible or invisible disabilities are not prominently featured in the narrative, which focuses on socio-political and criminal dynamics.

Present on Screen

Deeply authentic racial and cultural representation.
Effective use of specific dialects like Sabela and Tsotsi-taal.
Complex critique of systemic failures and socioeconomic limitations.

Limited or Absent

Need for more female characters with significant influence.
Inclusion of LGBTQ+ narratives and non-traditional gender identities.
Increased representation of characters with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Directed by Ian Gabriel, “Four Corners” revolves around a 13-year-old chess whiz drawn into the Cape Town’s well-known child-gang culture. Touted as the first film to delve into the 100-year-old war between South Africa’s so-called Number gangs, the 26 and the 28, it blends the Sabela, Tsotsi-taal and Cape Afrikaans dialects and mixes established talents with non-actors and first-time thesps from schools and communities across the Cape Flats.

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