A feature made with mood and verve set in the heart of the South African black township of Soweto. Michael Hammon shows two conflicting ways of escaping from life in Soweto: one legal and one illegal. On one side stand the representatives of the unions and on the other large- and small-scale criminals.Protagonist BT, at first on the legal side, becomes more and more involved with large-scale organised crime. He gets Alsina, a lawyer for the union with whom he has a relationship, into great difficulties when the car he has arranged for her turns out to be stolen. This leads to a break up with Alsina and BT becomes isolated from the legal side. Once he has given in to temptation of illegality, he soon builds a career for himself as a master car thief. His success makes him a threat to the leadership of the criminal syndicate, Shabantu. This man has close ties with corrupt politicians and is preparing for a political career of his own. BT is taken into the syndicate but Shabantu’s cynicism and cruelty go too far for him. He again seeks contact with Alsina in an attempt to break the power of the syndicate. In doing so he risked his own life.The strength of Wheels & Deals can mainly be found in the authenticity and effective use of black & white material. The film is shot entirely on location with local actors.
