URBAN SPECTRUM 




Kam Williams gives Cape of Good Hope 5 stars ***** in Urban Spectrum:

"What makes this movie marvelous is how deftly it incorporates a social consciousness right into the plot..."

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Cape of Good Hope
*****
Cross-Cultural, Female Empowerment
Set in South Africa 
Cape of Good Hope is a cross-cultural enterprise which gives you plenty of reasons to feel optimistic about the world. Set in post-Apartheid South Africa, this female empowerment flick was written and directed by the husband-wife team of Suzanne (daughter of actress Diahann Carroll) and Mark Bamford. These American expatriates, who moved to Cape Town with their two kids about five years ago, make a most impressive feature film debut, here, with this engaging ensemble piece which devotes equal time to each of its principals’ relationship issues, one of whom is Black, one White, one colored.

The three women are all connected by an animal shelter which serves as the hub which holds the story together. Housekeeper Lindiwe (Nthati Moshesh) is a single-mom struggling to find a way out of the slums to provide better opportunities for her family. She has an ardent admirer in Jean Claude (Eriq Ebouaney), a refugee from the Congo who is trying to decide whether to follow his heart or to seek political asylum in the West. 

Cape of Good Hope 
Sharifa’s (Quanita Adams) marriage is in crisis because her husband (David Isaacs) has been hesitant about visiting a fertility clinic, even though she has been unable to become pregnant. Finally, we have Kate (Debbie Brown), the self-destructive owner who gets along better with dogs than she does with men. As the movie opens, we find her emotionally involved with a married man, while ignoring the overtures of a kindly widower (Morne Visser) who is also interested in her.

What makes this movie marvelous is how deftly it incorporates a social consciousness right into the plot, such as when Kate’s boyfriend tries to rape Lindiwe while she is cleaning his home. When her enraged son learns of the attempted violation, he throws a rock through the creep’s window and is arrested. A showdown looms as Kate must choose sides. Will she remain loyal to a White guy who has never been there for her, or help free a kid who she know had good reason to act out?

How come Hollywood has never figured out how to make such relevant and seemingly simple character studies?

Rating: PG-13 for sex, expletives, violence and mature themes.
In Afrikaans, English and Xhosa with subtitles.
Running time: 107 minutes
Studio: Artistic License 

Posted: Tue - November 29, 2005 at 05:55 PM          

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