User reviews

I get nervous when I hear that a new "South African" movie is being made. With all due respect and love, years of "Mr. Bones" sequels have left me skeptical about the ability of the SA film industry to produce world class stories.

You'll understand then why I curtailed my enthusiasm ahead of seeing Ronnie Apteker's new feature, Material. The SA film industry doesn't produce movies all that often and so when they do, there's a crap ton of hype to go with them. Everybody wants you to rally around the new film, hoping that you won't notice that it's not all that good and celebrate nonetheless because "local is lekker."

Ronnie's previous movies were cool, but he'll forgive me for saying that they weren't extraordinary. "Straight out of Benoni" struck a chord with me only because I grew up in Benoni, but it was still little more than experimental fun, and Footskating 101 was somewhat forgetful.

Material is different though. From the very first shot the movie is sincere and absorbing in its attempt to tell an ancient story of the struggle between tradition, culture, religion and modernism.

Cassim Kaif (played by multi-talented comedian and medical doctor Riaad Moosa) is a budding comedian who spends his daylight hours keeping the struggling Kaif family fabric shop in Fordsburg afloat, alongside his stubborn and old-fashioned father, Ebrahim (played by Vincent Ebrahim.)

The story is a familiar one. Cassim must balance his love and respect for his family and their faith while discovering his giftedness as an entertainer in a secular environment. He leads this double life with the help of his best friend Yusuf (played by Joey Rasdien) but all comes to a head when his family discovers the truth.

This sounds pretty serious, doesn't it? Well it is, but this relatively earnest tale is expertly interwoven with countless genuinely hilarious moments, which one could only expect from a movie written by people like Riaad Moosa and Ronnie Apteker (among others.) Those who have had the pleasure of meeting Ronnie will appreciate and testify to his brilliant sense of humour and all round appreciation for the lighter side of life, while Riaad is widely recognized as one of South Africa's top comedians. As a result Material is hard to categorise. It's all at once a fantastic comedy and gripping drama, something we seldom see in SA.

The film is not perfect, but is carried on the brilliant leading performances delivered by Vincent Ebrahim and Riaad Moosa. In fact Moosa surprises with his acting chops – is there anything this guy can't do? The script is solid and the supporting performances are endearing. All in all Material is a massive leap forward in local cinema, and hopefully a sign of things to come.

Go see Material. It works because it is a story about the things that matter most in life; love, family, forgiveness, reconciliation, perseverance and of course, hilarious laughter. At worst you will be supporting local cinema. At best, it will change the way you see the world.

Cassim, his dad and mum pulled this one off very well. Great emotional and honest acting.

The storyline was well thought of and is one that anyone living in a multi-racial/multi-religious environment would gel with. The power of religion intertwined with tradition is best seen in the family drama during the wedding and when Ebrahim gets to visit the bar where his Cassim is performing.

His reaction upon being touched by the gatekeeper lady to be stamped on the hand was priceless!!

Kudos team! This is a must-watch movie.

Finally South Africa has made a film that touches the human heart, this film transgresses racial divides and talks to the universal human insights we can all relate to.

The film is a great mix of comedy, stand up and real drama that we all face in our day to day lives.

Riaad Moosa gives a performance that is honest and sincere, there's great cinematography and superb direction in all the characters and performances.

This film is a must see by all South Africans and anyone who loves great storytelling!

This movie made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me think, it made me want to see it again.

The performances are all incredibly strong, even the restrained mom, who watches her family been torn apart. Her son's love for stand-up comedy, conflicts with his conservative Dad's plans for him to take over the fabric shop in down-town Johannesburg.

The film is beautifully made. It is sensitive and insightful to Muslim tradition and to the history of the time and the area.

More than that it's an emotive, funny, clever and inspiring story about family, about choices, and about love.

I highly recommend it, and am going to see it several times!

Material Movie is a classic story of tradition versus modernity of change verse tradition. It is warm, funny, dramatic and engaging. Vincent Ebrahim gives an award winning performance equally matched by Riaad Moosa's excellent rendition of the stand-up comic by night obedient son by day.

This movie will be enjoyed by everyone. There is seldom a movie that appeals to both the general populace and the Muslim community but this movie bridges the divide.

Excellent production, inspired script and compelling acting make this a must see movie

A sensitive and funny movie - no it can't be South African, known for its blunt and slapstick, almost retarded approach to comedy.

But it is! The characters are well defined, the casting and acting by and large excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it, and left the theater feeling uplifted, happy and positive. This is why I go to movies. I loved it.

If I have any criticism, the movie lapses once or twice into sentimental "musical" moments, but these are short lived, and may even actually add to the enjoyment. Also, the movie seems a little rushed at the end, as if it ran out of time, and loose ends had to be tied up too quickly. Maybe I was enjoying it so much I didn't want it to end. But I am having to nit pick, to find negatives.

Well done to the producers, this movie makes me so proud. I sincerely hope it marks a sea change in our approach to movie-making. We have so much talent, so many excellent locations, such passionate people - like Ronnie Apteker - I'm hoping we start producing more movies like this and show the world we can do it.

Guys, sorry to say – You might have produced the movie but its owned by us South African's, you know that feeling: its like when we hosted the Soccer World Cup, when we won the Rugby World Cups and when the Proteas recently batted those caps black in NZ. Its a good feeling, a proud one.

I think, ask anyone who has watched the movie, describe their emotions and feelings and their response would somewhat be the same as mine.

About 7 years ago HSBC ran an advert that concluded: When was the last time you did something for the first time? Or in this case experienced something for the first time ?

For me, I watched the movie MATERIAL – I now believe we can produce premium movies and that we are blessed with actors that are so talented – for example nobody else could play Cassim other than Riaad, just like Green Goblin played by Willem Dafoe, Spiderman. And of course for the first time, a story had been told of an Indian community that was not slapstick.

I didn't expect much from this movie, but what a treat it turned out to be. I didn't even realize it was a South African movie until quarter way. Absolute gem. Connects very well to the audience through various emotions and at so many levels.

People in Asia would specially connect well to this movie which is a treat.

If you haven't watched this yet, do watch it.

South African's are known for rugby, cricket, good wine and many other things, but let's be honest, we've never really been "known" for our acting.

I am an AVID cinema-goer and I can honestly say that Material is one of the most beautiful film's I have seen in a long time.

As I was sitting in the movie house I found my heart SWELL with pride to the point where it almost burst right out of my chest! These guys did all the work and yet there in my seat, I felt so proud to be called South African.

And to top it off, there are a number of scenes that are absolutely hilarious! I can't remember the last time I laughed from my belly.

The Material movie is an ABSOLUTE MUST-SEE!

What a brilliant movie, great story and some great moments!!! Well done!!!

I watched this film in 11th Pune International Film Festival in India. It's the first South African film i watched. And I must say its mind blowing. The show was houseful and everyone loved the film. When the movie was over, there was a big round of applause for it!!!!

I must say the film is beautifully made!!! What i liked the most about this movie apart from the outstanding comedy by Riaad Moosa is the message that it is sharing with the youth. It says ..go ahead follow your dreams but don't hurt your parents, respect them, love them. After all they the people who matter the most in our life. This film reflects the perfect balance of traditions and modernity. Being an Indian I feel it is very much the way things are in Indian families. In my opinion Indian youth can very easily relate themselves to this film. Overall Inspired script, very refreshing, full of emotions and awesome performances by everyone in the film!!

Simply smashing!!! Release in India:))))

Ebrahim Kaif dreams of the day his son takes over the family shop that he has held onto despite the fact that the shop is not in a great part of town and is not doing well. Cassim (Ebrahim's son) has discovered that he has a talent for stand-up comedy. He's funny and those in the know tell him he has the talent to go far. The problem is he hasn't told his father about this other life.

When Ebrahim finds out about the stand-up comedy, Cassim finds himself in direct conflict with his father, his family and his community. His father demands that he make a choice.

The movie tells the story in a way that one could identify with the characters. I loved it!

Brilliant, a real 'feel good' movie- I loved it. Excellent performances and a great script. Another exceptional South African film which is insightful and opens a window on a different community and context. Below the surface this movie contains many relevant social themes about religion, culture, family values, expectations and aspirations. Set in South Africa in an area of Jo'Burg with a large established Indian community however the themes are universal and relevant to almost any culture and continent. Yes it's funny, moving and full of emotion but speaks volumes about everyday issues and challenges. Be prepared to laugh out loud, shed a tear, hold your breath, and just enjoy the family working it all out.

Like everybody else, my expectations of SA films are low (not for lack of talent but for their leaning towards the overly emotional or slapstick.'Material' really surprises and strikes that delicate balance of being at once, thought provoking, touching and funny. Particularly noteworthy is its restraint, which prevents it from becoming clichéd and bollywood-like, making it a universal but South African story. Acting was excellent all round, the script was great and the cinematography was brilliant(Fordsburg was an equally forceful character in the film and I particularly loved the shots from within the store as the light peers in,when the store shutters are rolled up every morning, emphasizing the act as a ritual), but it was the absolutely brilliant score that stood out the most for me. Great job all round...

After seeing the trailer I expected this film to be funny but apart from that I didn't expect much. After seeing the film, I believe it is one of South Africa's greatest achievements thus far. Here's why.

Not only were the jokes funny, the directing was brilliant, well paced, balanced, just perfect. Not overstated and yet bringing out so much emotion and feeling out of this simple story. The editing was absolutely on the spot.

Of course the emotion would not have been achieved were it not for the brilliant acting by the entire cast. Really Riaad Moosa (Cassim Kaif) plays the main role much better than I expected and Vincent Ebrahim (Ebrahim Kaif) was perhaps the standout performance playing the father. Denise Newman (Fatima) playing the mother was wonderful too. Joey Rasdien (Yusuf) also surprised me a little with the quality of his performance even though it wasn't as dramatic as the other roles. And as I said the rest of the cast was good as well.

The cinematography was amazing! Every shot was great, the art direction too.

The score was not only beautiful but also fitted the movie very well.

All round this film is funny, delightful and moving and everybody everywhere should watch it.

Material is in a class of its own because it fusses so many different genres successfully. Oscar winning "Tsotsi" gave the world a peak into South African thug-life life on the streets of Johannesburg. Material is strong for very different reasons.

The characters are quirky, sometimes funny and almost magical in their qualities. Ronnie Apteker, the producer has put together an excellent support team including a brilliant scriptwriter. Dialogue flows so naturally between the cast it is easy to taken on this journey. After a string of films under his belt, this may be his first box office hit. Material also has strong international potential in the Middle East and Asia where the Muslim family story may resonate even stronger.

After reading the build up to this film on Twitter over the last 12-months, this film had to be great not just good. This movie was more than expected and hits emotional triggers from beginning to end. The cinematography is breezy and captures the soul of one of the oldest suburbs in Johannesburg, Fordsburg succinctly. Local residents refer it to "little Pakistan" or "little India" because of the high concentration of Muslims from India or Pakistan who live here.

Moviegoers get real glimpses of the struggle in a family bound by tradition and terrors of the legacy of Apartheid. Fathers and boys have a special connection. This film is at times deeply spiritual in its quest for reconciliation between family members, father and son, and brothers.

Look out for the stand-up comedy routines because they lift you up when you least expect it. Movies like this can help change the world. This movie is a family movie, a comedy, a drama and a coming of age story all rolled into one. Ronnie Apteker may be close to his magnum opus as a film producer.

Thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish, completely unexpected! The authenticity of Gujarati Muslim life in the South African diaspora is spot on and will ring so familiar to anybody from a South Asian background. The film is sensitive, nuanced and very well acted - especially the angry rants of the old man. Brilliant unpacking of the intergenerational conflicts between parents and children, especially when the former attempt to impose their rigid and myopic expectations on the latter. But the son is dutiful and respectful and keen to take his family with him as he pursues his dreams. An intelligent film that rings through with authenticity - oh, and a cameo appearance by Zain Bhika! Must watch.

If you EVER get to see this film, I highly suggest that you do. It's a MUST WATCH. Honest. Refreshing. Brilliantly funny. Endearing, AUTHENTIC.

The packed theater was in splits through most of the film :-) As another reviewer stated, there are few films that will appeal to both Muslims and Non- Muslims and Material just hits that sweet spot. Managed to catch it at the international Film Festival. I just wish more people here in the US had got to see it in regular cinema. I think it would open up a a lot of minds and hearts. Kudos to the director and cast for the excellent job.

I think only people of sub-continental descent will able to understand the deep and rich cultural references in this movie. In addition, there are many plot lines - the strained relationship between the father and Uncle, which is common in family businesses, the aspirations and passions of Cassim to do what he loves, and then the plot about the love interest. These are all beautifully interwoven with each other which is not an easy task to accomplish in the script. I wish that people understand the depth and richness of this film a little more as the overall rating doesn't do it justice. Please watch it with this context in mind.

If you are a person that is confused in life when it comes to whether you should follow your dream and passion or whether you should let other people decide for you as to which path you should take in your life then you are in a good place, watch this movie and see the life of a man changes as he finds what he loves and what he has passion in which is stand up comedy, this is a south African comedy movie about a young man who discovered comedy and followed it but his parents where not happy about that Coz they do not understand it so it kind of caused a little bit of misunderstanding between him and his daddy, such a good movie please watch it when you get time to.

I loved the humour. Seen Riaad Moosa standup a couple of times and he's great an actor as he is comedian. It's the same with Vincent Ebrahim. Seen him live too. The story line was also realistic and true to how strict some religious parents can be and this is accross all religions. I think it is a worthwhile movie. I watch a lot of movies and this wasn't only watchable but it was a top class movie. I hope that it is visible to foreigners and that it's available on Netflix worldwide. Give it a bash - it's a kiff movie. Apparently I have to type 55 more characters to submit. I can't say anything more than I've said - it's an awesome movie.

Riaad, when your mother physically forces you to sit down and enjoy DSTV movie with her, without smoke breaks (NB NB), it HAS to be good.

Sorry, Material isn't good, it's damn well effing GREAT!

I love, love, love you!!! Far too many exclamation marks, I fear.

Point is; I'm writing a biography / screenplay right now and would so welcome your advice. It's a very sensitive subject, and she's a very, very private person. But, just like yours in Material, it's a uniquely South African story that demands to be told.

Please keep in touch with carrying on keeping in touch with our country,

Warm regards,

Claire Harrison 0839691737

http://writestuff08396917.wix.com/claire