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March 2007

DVD REVIEW: WONDROUS OBLIVION
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By Kam Williams

DVD REVIEW: WONDROUS OBLIVION



Cast: Sam Smith, Stanley Townsend, Delroy Lindo, Leagh Conwell, Dominic Barklem, Jo Stone-Fewings, Emily Woof
Director: Paul Morrison
Format: Color, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 1
Rating
Studio: Palm Pictures / Umvd
DVD Release Date: March 20, 2007
Rated PG for mature themes, some sensuality, and racial epithets.
Run Time: 106 minutes
DVD Features:
Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Commentary by director Paul Morrison
Featurette
Trailer

 

   
 

DVD about Jamaicans Integrating Lily-White London Enclave Released  
 
 The Samuels aren’t exactly welcomed when they move into a working-class  London neighborhood. In fact, the only folks on the block who aren’t downright unfriendly are the Wisemans, a Jewish family. 

 Victor Wiseman (Stanley Townsend), a Holocaust survivor, is a workaholic  who spends long hours at his drapery store downtown, leaving his younger, attractive wife (Emily Woof), and their 11 year-old son (Sam Smith) feeling a little neglected. Shy and retiring Ruth is longing for a little excitement in her life, while David needs help with practice to reach his dreams of becoming a cricket star. When the Samuels arrive on the block, the mother and son both find in patriarch Dennis (Delroy Lindo) a person with the potential for filling their emotional voids. For, after the muscular laborer erects a cricket cage in his backyard, he immediately invites curious David over for free lessons to improve his game. 

 Meanwhile, Mrs. Wiseman is prone to fantasizing about her exotic and alluring, new next-door neighbor. And soon, she’s finding any excuse to interact with him while her hubby’s not around, which is most of the time. However, Dennis does have a spouse of his own and three daughters, one of whom, Judy (Leonie Elliott), is an adorable tomboy who just happens to be about David’s age. So, this flick features a couple of parallel romances, one borne of innocent puppy love, the other taboo for more than one reason. 

 Set in the Sixties, Wondrous Oblivion is one of those multi-layered, cross-cultural soap operas (ala Secrets and Lies, My Beautiful Launderette, A Fond Kiss and Bend It Like Beckham) which for some reason the British seem to have somehow perfected. A touching rites-of-passage tale which simultaneously sends valuable messages about friendship, fidelity, tolerance, and reaching for the stars. 
 
 
 


   
 

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