By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.75
Director: Richard E. Grant
Starring: Celia Imrie | Emily Watson | Fenella Woolgar | Gabriel Byrne | Julie Walters | Miranda Richardson | Nicholas Hoult
Country: france, south_africa, united_kingdom
Year: 2006
Running time: 120
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419256/
Hilary says: “Actor Richard E. Grant’s writing/directing debut is an autobiographical sketch of his upbringing in Swaziland, on
the cusp of independence from British occupation. Nicholas Hoult (ABOUT A BOY) is quite good as Ralphie, son of Harry Compton (Gabriel Byrne), a British officer and Education Minister. Ralphie’s mother, Lauren (Miranda Richardson), leaves the family following an affair with another British ex-pat. Lauren is a cool blonde, the image of a young Gena Rowlands, always dressed in white with a perfect coiff, despite the heat and pervasive red dust.
“Harry deals with Lauren’s departure by self-medicating with copious amounts of liquor and sending Ralphie off to boarding school. One holiday Ralphie returns home to discover that Harry has taken a new wife, Ruby (Emily Watson), an American and former ‘common air-hostess.’ Ruby is bemused by the behavior of her husband’s friends and colleagues with their open snobbery, veddy proper manners, and most of all their slang, which she terms ‘wah-wah.’ Ruby is a hoot, a real free spirit garbed in fabulous ’70s fashions.
“I think the film would’ve been more successful had Grant let someone else direct. It would advantage from some emotional distance, as the first half of the film collapses under the weight of melodrama. The second half is better, but still a bit lacking. 3 cats”
Michael says: “This British drama takes place during the late 60’s in Swaziland as it is about to receive its independence from Britain. Actor Richard E. Grant (GOSFORD PARK; WITHNAIL & I) wrote and directed WAH-WAH based on his childhood in Swaziland during the traumatic break-up of his parents. At the age of twelve, Harry Compton (Gabriel Byrne) is working for the British ruling power and is in danger of losing his position as Swaziland gains its independence. His wife Lauren (Miranda Richardson) is bored with their life, and resents the snobby community in which they live. With little warning, she leaves her husband and their twelve-year-old son Ralph, much to his consternation. This sets off Harry to binge drinking often in the company of their neighbor ‘Auntie’ Gwen (Julie Walters) whose husband ran off with Lauren. Ralph is sent off to boarding school, and when he returns, he finds that his father has unexpectedly, married an American airline hostess named Ruby (Emily Watson) after knowing her for only six weeks. Ralph tries to resent Ruby, but the two quickly bond. She two is ostracized by the British gentility, but she mocks them all saying their British chatter sounds like, ‘wah-wah-wah-wah.’ She is less blasé about Harry’s violent, insulting, drunken rages, and life in the Compton household remains difficult, especially when Lauren shows up throwing the delicate balance of life into a tizzy.
“Things build to a climax when Princess Margaret is scheduled to come to town to celebrate Swaziland’s independence. To honor her, the community prepares a staging of the musical ‘Camelot’ in which Ralph wins the part of Modred (setting him on the path to acting). There are some more dramatic ups and downs, but clearly Grant should have instead written a book detailing the story of his life, and let someone else adapt it. Grant is clearly too close to the material to create a screenplay for a satisfying film. There are sequences included in the film that were kept in because they meant something special to Grant, but they don’t really work in the context of the film, and drag things down. Then he is forced to rush through other story elements
in order to keep the plot moving. The film is also a little overly sentimental, a result of Grant writing about his own life. The worst is the inclusion of a girlfriend for Ralph, who gets little screentime, is peripheral to the storylines, and is clearly included just so we know that Richard E. Grant is not gay. It was pretty obnoxious.
“The acting is fairly erratic as well. Gabriel Byrne chews up the scenery, especially during his binges, in a manner that is close to embarrassing. However, Emily Watson is a gem as the brash American Ruby. Miranda Richardson is always good, even when playing a role that isn’t fully fleshed out. Julie Walters is fun as the boozy neighbor who secretly (or not-so secretly) pines for her neighbor. Veteran actress Celia Imrie (IMAGINE ME & YOU; BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY) is hilariously insufferable as Lady Riva Hardwick, the ultimate in the snooty community. Fenella Woolgar (Chlotrudis nominee for BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS) is fun in a small part, and Nicholas Hoult (ABOUT A BOY) is cute and serviceable as the 14-year-old Ralph.
“Given the talent involved in front of the camera, WAH-WAH would have been well serviced with a more distant approach. 2 ½ cats.”