The Movie Chicks 




TheMovieChicks.com reviews Cape of Good Hope:

"It’s a beautiful little film with a message of hope... plus it’s got gospel singing, ballroom dancing, and a bit with dogs..." 

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE 
RATING 3.5 
(Director: Mark Bamford, PG-13, 107 min, some English subtitles) 
 
At the center of this story is an animal shelter in Cape Town, South Africa. A young woman, Kate (Debbie Brown), runs the place. She knows how to care for dogs and snakes, but she needs work on dealing with men – she’s so wrapped up in a guy who is unavailable that she doesn’t see Morne (Morne Visser), the wonderful veterinarian right in front of her.

Sharifa (Quanita Adams) works at the shelter, she and her husband Habib (David Isaacs) are a young Muslim couple desperate to start a family. Jean Claude (Eriq Ebouaney) is a refugee from the Congo who takes care of the animals. He was an astrology professor in his homeland, but the closest he can get to his old life is volunteering at the planetarium. Jean Claude is a gentle soul, wise beyond his years. Lindiwe (Nthati Moshesh) is a single mother, trying to go to school, work as a servant in a rich man’s house, and care for her son Thabo (Kamo Masilo). Lindiwe’s mother (Lillian Dube) has plans to set her up as the local reverend’s wife, but Lindiwe has a mind of her own. Thabo has trained his dog to do tricks and Kate hires him to show off what he can do at the shelter on adoption days. Thabo and Jean Claude start working together and that brings Lindiwe into this close circle of friends at the shelter. They are all looking for love and fortunately for them they’re looking in the right place.

The movie was made in South Africa, but it departs from the films we’ve seen that focus on the political strife of Apartheid. It has a lighter touch – there are still issues of race and class, but they’re approached in a more roundabout, accessible way that isn’t so in your face. It’s like a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down, you get a romantic comedy to deliver some important messages.

The film opens with a bunch of the dogs doing what they do best (mostly look cute) and that instantly invites the audience into the story – it’s the perfect way to start a feel-good movie. The dogs are also used to get across the message that racism is taught, but with patience it can be untaught - it’s a powerful moment.

The movie is funny and warm thanks to the excellent ensemble cast. Each story matters, but the standout is the story at the heart of the film involving Jean Claude and Lindiwe – they are magnetic characters, you can’t help but be drawn to. When Jean Claude explains things, like love is the glue that holds the universe together, you get him. The “wrap-up” at the end of the movie is a little silly compared to the rest of the film, but that’s about our only complaint. 

Posted: Sat - December 3, 2005 at 09:26 PM          

©