As long as there have been fraternities, there’s been hazing, but the hallowed tradition of humiliation is coming under increasing scrutiny. Incidents that have left pledges gravely injured have made headlines, and schools are no longer turning a blind eye to this often brutal activity. And the movies are paying attention too, with “Goat” recently taking viewers inside the world of brotherhood via James Franco and Nick Jonas. Now comes “Burning Sands” which tells a similar tale but through the lens of the African-American experience.
Starring Trevor Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Steve Harris, Tosin Cole, DeRon Horton, and featuring “Moonlight” breakout Trevante Rhodes, the drama follows a young man through Hell Week. Here’s the official synopsis from Sundance where the movie premiered:
In his freshman year of college, it seems Zurich has everything going for him; he has the respect of his teachers and university administration, the love and devotion of a wonderful girlfriend, and he’s been selected for admission to a prestigious black fraternity on campus. But as Zurich embarks on the Hell Week of pledging his fraternity, the harsh trials of entry into brotherhood begin to test the limits of his self-worth. As the intensifying abuse begins to become untenable, Zurich struggles to honor the fraternity’s code of silence, and the scaffolding of his life outside the frat begins to dismantle.
“Burning Sands” hits Netflix on March 10th.