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Poster for Wah-Wah

Wah-Wah

Every family has its own language.

2005 · 2h · R Drama
Directed by Richard E. Grant

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Overview

Set at the end of the 1960s, as Swaziland is about to receive independence from United Kingdom, the film follows the young Ralph Compton, at 12, through his parents' traumatic separation, till he's 14.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
54%
Tomatometer
Fresh

I admired the movie and was happy to see it but can think of two other films about whites in Africa that do a better job of seeing their roles.

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Rotten

Watching it is like trying to assemble a puzzle that's missing pieces: You can see the outline of a story, and some shapes fit neatly together, but there are undeniable holes.

Jessica Reaves, Chicago Tribune
Fresh

Deftly balancing the end of British colonialism in Africa against a family's painful disintegration, Wah-Wah marks the impressive directing debut of Richard E. Grant.

Peter Howell, Toronto Star
Fresh

The actors give it a spark, and Grant directs his fine cast with sureness.

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
Rotten

What is understandably a subject of great fascination to [Grant] soon becomes a crashing bore to us.

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

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