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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Commentary, Featurette, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Writer/director Paul Morrison, who directed the cross-cultural period drama Solomon and Gaenor, returns to similar ground, though in a lighter vein, with Wondrous Oblivion. Sam Smith stars as David Wiseman, a Jewish boy living in London in 1960 who dreams of being a world-class athlete. David is totally obsessed with cricket, and loves playing, even though he is one of the worst players at his school. His parents, Ruth (Emily Woof of The Full Monty) and Victor (Stanley Townsend), are struggling with the bigoted residents of their working-class neighborhood, but the neighbors get a bit more friendly to the Wisemans when Dennis (Delroy Lindo), a Jamaican laborer, and his family move in next door. David is shocked and delighted when he realizes that Dennis and his daughter, Judy (Leonie Elliott), are installing a cricket pitch in their backyard. Before long, and against the wishes of his worried parents, David is spending a lot of time next door, becoming very friendly with Judy, and becoming a much better cricket player. Ruth gradually warms to Dennis, but the rest of the neighborhood grows increasingly hostile. Wondrous Oblivion was presented by the Jewish Museum and the Film Society of Lincoln Center as part of the 2005 New York Jewish Film Festival. ...Wondrous Oblivion
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cricket Lovely Cricket,
By Harmony (England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Wondrous Oblivion [DVD] [2004] (DVD)
Picture a young boy,David, from a Jewish immigrant family, who loves cricket. He dresses the part but he can't play it.Then imagine a Jamaican family moving in next door who (you guessed it) pretty much live for cricket. This film is an explosive mix of passion both about the sport itself but also about the blossoming of domesticated Ruth Wiseman (David's mother) ( Quote'' Nobody taught me how to be a woman'') Wondrous Oblivion is also about the power of friendship and depicts David's rite of passage. The film manages to successfully blend the stark elements of racism of 60's London with the growing bond, that knows no boundaries, that is established between the Wisemans and the Samuels. For me, the intoxicating music and dance scenes had me spellbound- Rudy, A Message To You, Sugar Dandy and I Want To Be Free to name but a few of the classics featured. The melodies bonded the film together to make it a moving masterpiece, all credit to Paul Morrison, the director. By the way, never had I realised just how sensuous mopping a floor up could be (to know what I mean, you will have to see the film.....) Wondrous Oblivion would suit all ages (you do not even have to remotely like cricket to love this film to bits.) Just one last point. Why was this film never on general release in the UK? It deserves to take pride of place among the All Time Top Ten Greats.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Wondrous Movie,
By Barry Linton (Southend on Sea, ESSEX United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Wondrous Oblivion [DVD] [2004] (DVD)
I had the pleasure to watch this film at a Jewish charity showing, and it took me right back to my own childhood in the early 50s/60s in Hackney. It so accurately records our feelings at the time of misplaced "relief" that sniping black-shirt racism now had a new Black target, and yet as fellow immigrants we still had difficulty in finding common ground.There was muffled embarrassed laughter in the cinema at the line "I hope they will leave us alone now." Yet in the movie, as in my own life, sport and especially Cricket become the bond. There are some delightfully touching scenes and wonderful depiction of a young Garfield Sobers and Frank Worrall visiting and inspiring the local black community. While the recreation of the detail of the period is precise, I am sure my own son who loves cricket will enjoy the film and see his own modern parallels of running off at every opportunity to play cricket with the local Asian community. Why on earth did this film not go on general release?
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wondrous Oblivion,
By A Customer
This review is from: Wondrous Oblivion [DVD] [2004] (DVD)
I was totally entranced by this film. I laughed, I got teary and just a little bit humbled by it at times. Why oh why didn't this go on general release? What was the matter with the people who make these decisions? Must have been one of the best films I've seen in three years! The characters are superbly well drawn and the story deftly deals with some serious issues in a way which would capture anybody's imagination. The music was appropriate and integral to the film's overall success.
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