KobusAdAstra An interesting Coming of Age film taking place in Swaziland in the late 1960s and early 70s, round about the time of the country gaining independence from England. In this outpost very British traditions are upheld and the ex pats try to keep it up by playing cricket, having tea parties and living in comfort while served by their large numbers of servants, all in true colonial style.A young boy, Ralph Compton, sees his mother having intercourse with another man; this would affect him much. Eventually his parents get divorced, his old man marries again - and starts drinking. Ralph lives in his own world and enacts scenes he witnessed as his parents' marriage breaks apart, using his puppets. The boy seems to cope somehow and eventually finds his own voice.The film has some good acting, particularly by old man Compton (Gabriel Byrne) and Ralph (Nicholas Hoult). The cinematography is good and effectively brings dusty Swaziland into your home. I would have loved some appropriate background sounds too, perhaps local bush-veld birds calling for instance. Halfway through the film becomes a bit too sentimental to my taste, but fortunately not for long. All in all it was a delightful film. I score it an above average 8/10.

Richard Burin Wah-Wah (Richard E. Grant, 2005) is a delightful film about writer-director Grant's childhood during the final throes of colonial Swaziland. Balancing fraughtness - as his alter-ego's mother (Miranda Richardon) leaves and his father (Gabriel Byrne) descends into alcoholism - with superbly judged comic passages, it transports the viewer into the head of the young protagonist, perfectly articulating his feelings without the need for speechifying or voice-over. Such a feat is testament to the economy and precision of the script, Grant's subtle but expressive direction and Nicholas Hoult's excellent performance as the 14-year-old Ralph Compton. That Hoult can hold his own against Emily Watson, the most gifted dramatic performer of her generation, is as high praise as I can think of. Watson is ideal, as ever, playing the boy's ballsy American step-mum, who's threatening to turn high society on its ear if she can stand the scotch-swilling company long enough. The film does suffer from a dearth of geographic context in the mid-section and has some structural problems in the second half that seem to saddle it with several false endings, but it's clever, subtle and formidably unsentimental, with superb acting across the board. Its more painful exchanges have the unmistakable ring of truth and grim memory, and there's a great set of scenes in which Hoult sees A Clockwork Orange and starts idly apeing McDowell's eyeliner-wearing sociopath. I really liked it.

gradyharp Gifted actor Richard E. Grant makes his writing and directing debut with this highly entertaining film about the last days of British colonial protectorate of Swaziland, East-South Africa, drawing from his memoirs as a child growing up in Swaziland the time when the Kingdom of Swaziland was given its independence from British rule. The autobiographical nature of the film aids in Grant's sensitive approach to creating this drama tinged with comedy and the result if a film that is one of the strongest depictions of the end of British colonialism in the world. Supported by a sterling cast Grant makes a strong impression with this delightful outing.Harry Compton (Gabriel Byrne) is the Minister of Education for Swaziland, respected by both the natives and the snobbish, insular, stuffy colonialists who live in the isolation of the colony's chief city. Harry is married to Lauren (Miranda Richardson) whose disgust with her husband's home habits and the stifling life of the colonialists is placated by adultery: her latest affair is with John Traherne (Ian Roberts) whose wife Gwen (Julie Walters) is a close friend of the family. Their son Ralph (played as a young boy by Zachary Fox and as an older lad by Nicholas Hoult) discovers his mother's adultery and the family comes to a disastrous crumble as Lauren leaves Harry and Ralph to escape her perceived prison. Harry descends into alcoholism and Ralph is sent away to boarding school, only to return a few years later to find that Harry has married a tacky but truthful American Ruby (Emily Watson) whose presence is the center of disgust from the colonials lead by their Lady Hardwick (Celia Imre) and who mimics the colonial snobbery by terming their insular and foolish language as 'wah-wah'.Gradually Ruby wins the confidence and respect of Ralph and as the time approaches for the British to hand over the independence to the natives, Princess Margaret is scheduled for an appearance and the colonials led by Lady Hardwick plan a performance of 'Camelot' for the occasion. Ralph discovers he can both sing and act and wins a role in the play, finding the beginning of his true self at last. How the production and the Princess' visit come off and how the intricacies of the Compton family are resolved serve as the finale of the film.There are numerous subplots in the film and not all of them are fully realized or even necessary, but chalk that up to the 'first film' experience of Grant. Grant does demonstrate a sturdy hand in directing a cast of superb actors, both British and African including the excellent John Matshikiza whose Dr. Zim Mzimba represents one of the only grounded minds in the film. The beauty of Swaziland is captured by the lush photography by Pierre Aïm and a thoroughly charming musical score by Patrick Doyle. Not only is the story entertaining and well told, it also gives us insights into the machinations of the last of the British Empire era. Recommended viewing. Grady Harp

thabakate2 Sitting in any American cinema audience, one is always aware that battle will have to be fought with the munchers, crunchers, cell phone brigade and plastic bag gang. Well done to Richard E Grant who silenced them all. Unlike many others, I held back my tears until the last five minutes but the view from his father's graveside undid me utterly. As the lights came on and I dabbed at my wet face, I realized that all around me people were doing exactly the same and I daresay hardly any of them had ever heard of Swaziland. I lived in Lesotho (Basutoland) at around the same time and the divisions between Black and White, traders and ex pats, Brits and South Africans were exactly the same. We all drank far too much and personal relationships were under a constant spotlight but it afforded us an extraordinary way of life that has now vanished completely. "Wah Wah" captured it all and my sincere thanks to Richard E Grant and his excellent cast for taking me back in time. We are now ordering the film and holding a "Wah Wah" party for all the homesick Southern Africans who have washed up on these far away shores. "Khotso Pula Nala". (Peace Rain and Prosperity).