Boy Called Twist

Being a Capetonian (resident of Cape Town, South Africa), this movie was particularly interesting. One knows about hoe bipolar the city can be (squatters a few blocks from million dollar mansions), but this really shows just how close to the surface the poverty really is (and makes me feel a little less safe!). So many street children are really faced with such an existence. What is good about the movie is that despite the poverty and bleakness, there is sense of hope. One gets the sense that one day, something might go right for them and they might be rescued from the plight.It's not difficult to make a dreary depressing film, but an achievement to infuse it with a sense of hope and possibility.

In the spirit of "what's old is new" comes this thinly veiled adaptation of "Oliver Twist". The film-makers don't try to hide it, as it's clearly in the title, but what they DON'T tell you is that this is just a mess on too many levels. First, the dialogue is just contrived and unnatural. Second, the story is just a bit incoherent. Third, juxtaposing Islam in Capetown over the original Dickensian London doesn't work, since anyone familiar with Islam knows there is a BIG problem with adoption in that society (i.e. Islam basically forbids it, since its founder, Mohammed disavowed his previously adopted son because he wanted to have his wife for himself). Just bad.

This had the potential to be a really good "slice of life" in post-apartheid South Africa; something most Westerners don't get to see. Instead we get a thinly veiled Muslim morality play. Muslims good; Westerners Evil.

Saddly, not only was there a great potential for this film, but it had some pretty good performances as well. Unfortunately, in true Dickensian fashion, regardless of the individual actors' portrayals of their roles, their dialog and overall script made them come off as sappy and melodramatic.

No thank you.

Pardon me, but I'm still in a mild state of shock. Based on Dickens' work this...film details a young homeless South African in his search for a family. Okay, I get it.

This is quite odd in its execution, but as a modernized remake, it's not all that bad, but it certainly is not the art-house film it was intended to be. Some of the performances are quite good, while others leave a bad taste in your mouth.

This is entertaining, though a muddled mess of an adaptation. The elements here are both English and South African, but there seems to be some other subtexts hidden within. It would intrigue me if it were better done than it is, but as it is, I will not waste the time.

It rates a 2.8/10 from...

the Fiend :.

I was in Cape Town for 6 months in the fall of 2005 working as a volunteer with street kids, so it was really a special experience for me watching this film. I know some of the street boys figuring as extras in the movie, as Fagin's gang members. From the little knowledge and insight I got to these boys' lives, the illustration of a street boy's life in this film seemed quite realistic to me. I saw this movie in a theater with two young former street boys whom I invited to see it with me, and they both recognized a lot from their own past lives on the street. The street boys I got to know are wonderful and loving innocent boys, who shouldn't be feared. They can look rather tough when you don't know them, but that is just a facade, and necessary to live. All they really want if they approach you, is a little money to buy food. They are rarely violent, but I will admit can be bit annoying if they get too insistent ;)

Actually I really just wanted to know if this movie is available on DVD on some internet shop??? I would really like a copy...