“Marked”: A Nuanced Meditation on Christianity and Worldly Entanglement

Babalwa (Lerato Mvelase), the lead character in Akinola Omotoso‘s Marked, loves Jesus and isn’t performative about it. Babalwa isn’t just the archetypal Christian that tattoos their room with religious totems for aesthetic quality and outlook, she is one that carries the spiritual knowledge of her faith into her daily and professional life. Working as a driver and security guard for a cash-in-transit company, her actions are marked with mannerism of a devoted Christian. She leads her team in prayer before and after their trip. The truck she drives has a rosary placed on her windscreen — a spiritual amulet. When Babalwa skilfully evades robbery orchestrated by Razor (Jabulani Mthembu) and his teammates, she acknowledges God’s infinite protection. In fact, her penchant for truth and fairness to God and her faith motivates her reporting of Kat (Mduduzi Mabaso), her ex-police colleague’s illegal and corrupt practices, resulting in his suspension and her exiting the force after facing internal backlash from fellow police officers. Unmindful of the financial strain this presents, like the archetypal Christian, she takes it in good faith and starts working with Zachariah (Desmond Dube)’s cash-in-transit company. This firm resolve will gradually crumble as Palesa (Ama Qamata), her only daughter’s health crisis heightens and uncertainty looms. 

Omotoso’s Marked jointly written by Jacob Ntshangase, Steven Pillemer, Wendy Gumede, Charleen Ntsane and Sydney Dire and directed by Freddie Van’Dango, Desiree Muli, Katlego Mokoena and Thabani Gigaba follows the psychological, spiritual and emotional shift in Babalwa’s life while navigating the uncertainty surrounding her daughter’s health. The writing presents an emotional journey through Babalwa’s subtle change in perception.  When Palesa’s crisis gets severe and gets lip-service support from the church she attends, Baba G (Jerry Mofokeng)’s offer of turning her into an informant to steal her company’s money becomes appealing. She decides to become an informant in a bid to get treatment money. Even when Baba G gets killed in a crossfire, her resolve doesn’t falter. 

Babalwa’s life and by extension the series revolves around Christianity and Christians’ navigation of dire financial challenges that might unsettle their religious resolve. Framed as a living shadow in the relationship, Lunginle (Bonko Khoza), Babalwa’s husband, is a pastor in training awaiting ordination. This means that he’s incapable of contributing financially to the family. But, as the spiritual head of the family, his words, though measured and feeble, hold certain authority. Thus, when he offers Babalwa’s life’s saving to the church following Revered Gabriel(Kabomo Vilakazi)’s suggestion, it’s done from a spiritually conscious perspective. It’s also done from the masculine urge to appear useful and significant even when his independent decision could cause potential hardship to his family. Although the series occasionally frames Reverend Gabriel and his church as a parasitical organization, it does so in a careful and courteous manner. Babalwa visibly opposes her husband’s decision and pained about the Reverend disapproving their church crowdfunding; she, as a faithful believer, doesn’t articulate it. Even when she’s moving in sin and planning a heist inside the church with other indigent church members, she remembers to return to God for guidance and forgiveness. This constant return to God despite her conscious subversive actions shows her as a multidimensional character living with her complex realities. 

Mvelase’s performance as Babalwa carries this visible and hidden conflict. The constant flickering of her eyes, paced and agitated movement and almost stoic but soft countenance is reflective of the complex conversation going on in her character’s head. Khoza’s performance as Babalwa’s husband and spiritually conscious Christian is believable and immersive. Their contrasting performance aids the series’ careful mediation on the question of parental love and responsibility and religious steadfastness and duty. Other actors also spice the series with emotionally charged performances fitting their character temperament and mindset. Qamata as the ill child embodies the feeling of estrangement in her body and life. Her measured words, deep reverence and love for her parents and Christianity is articulated in her calm movement and resignation to faith. S’Dumo Mtshali, who plays Tebza, Babalwa’s colleague, shows his loyalty and love towards Babalwa despite the social harm it causes him. Although he loves her, he isn’t pushy or forceful about it. 

The religious and emotional tension aside, Marked provides moments of entertainment value for viewers. As we watch the group of amateur and steadfast Christians plan a heist, it seems incredulous but believable thanks to the writing.  In the hands of a shoddy writing team, it could become a boring and drawn out comedic moment but here it becomes a story of internal conflict and personal battles. Though the film sets up events to lead towards the planned heist, it’s the characters’ conflict, especially that of Babalwa, that is gripping.