Like any biopic the bits that hit best are the ones that resonate with the viewers own experiences and this film had plenty for me, albeit in a novel landscape. Never patronising the story gifts a flavour of a vanished, unloved world with authenticity, carefully observed/remembered and inspiring the veiwer to understand more of this place and period.

From my perspective this is a remarkable movie touching the transition of a child into adolescence while at the same time his parents split and form new relationships and all this happens in Swaziland as it gains independence from the British Empire. The director did live in this part of Africa and I was born in a former French colony in Equatorial Africa. Professional reviewers did not think highly of the movie, on the other hand major actors decided to participate and I am sure their motivation was not multi million fees. The story avoids descending into cheap melodrama. Most characters are descent human beings with weaknesses. Cinematography is good and according to the credits the picture was shot in that part of Africa. The action in the movie involves mostly ordinary situations. There is no extreme violence, fast and furious driving or explicit sex. It is a sad realization that fifty years later the Africans have not succeeded so far to self govern their continent very successfully, but this was not known at the time described in this movie.

Wah-Wah provides occasionally affecting moments (such as the touching final scene) that offer the unfulfilled promise of a better story. However, despite everything that happens between the opening and end credits, the unevenness of the pacing results in a production that feels longer than its 97 minutes. And it is both surprising and disappointing that an actor of Richard E. Grant's stature proves unable to provoke better performances from some of his stars. Overall, the plot of Wah-Wah is as unmemorable as the title. An okay one time watch but with so much content available- why would you?

Written and directed by Richard E. Grant, this is a semi-autobiographical film based upon Grant's life growing up as a youngster in Swaziland, which at the time was still under the rule of the crumbling British Empire, and it's last days until it was granted independence. It's a very good coming-of-age drama with some good performances and a lot of local colour of the time period it's set in. Set between the mid 1960's to the early 1970's, this tells the story of Ralphie Compton (Zac Fox and Nicholas Hoult), whose father Harry (Gabriel Byrne) has ties with the aristocracy who lives in Swaziland. However, his mother Lauren (Miranda Richardson) leaves Harry for another man, and Ralphie goes to boarding school. A few years later, he comes back home to find out that Harry has married Ruby (Emily Watson), who works as a stewardess for American Airlines. Although Ruby and Ralphie don't connect at first, they soon do, but when Lauren comes back into Ralphie's life, Harry descends into serious alcoholism. Grant called upon a lot of favours to get this film made, but he shows a lot of confidence in his directing and his writing, even if it was a difficult production, with a "control freak producer" as Grant put it and only 7 weeks to film it. But, it looks brilliant, and he was lucky in having a good cast on screen to portray his childhood.

A long melodramatic soap opera set in 1960s Swaziland. The setting kept me interested for the first half hour but I soon gave up under the weight of cheesy melodramatic strings and flying plates.

What a disappointment! This movie was just a bunch of random dramatic scenes strung together for the sake of being dramatic...some of the acting was pretty great but most of it was based on stereotypes of "bold brass American woman" and "angry post-divorce alchoholic" that the actors seemingly saw in a high school play.

I loved this movie. Walters is amazing as always.

A personal project by Richard E Grant in relation to his upbringing in South Africa during the 60s. Interesting story but difficult to relate to the context.

Has a strong opening, great cast, and plenty of worthwhile moments throughout, but the parts don't quite add up to a whole.

A little strange. Didn't really get it, even though I really wanted to.

Fascinating, and well performed by a diverse ensemble. There are a little too many stories to follow, however when it focuses on his immediate relationships it really has a warm, touching quality. It's also beautifully shot with vibrant colours.

Marvellous performances, in a movie rife with all the bad parts of humanity, but at the same time, all the amazing parts as well! Great story and beautiful scenery, Africa has always had the power to steal my breath away.

Lovely film, with some great acting, especially from Gabriel Byrne! I've also read Richard's book about the making of the film which helps to understand it more. Well done Mr Grant!

Pretty good;) enjoyable

Ok Time piece such as the piano o the like of settles in colonial times at the other end of the scale in the 20th centurey at the time of a recognised independant nation. Meanwhile, the British start to withdraw from Swaziland. . Suffering attributes like obsessive excessive drinking and petty squabbles within a social pecking order. For aDrama it had me, driven for the better part in 1969 a teenager deals with a parental separation driven to drink farther and a loving de facto relationship torn apart and mended time again in a family drama with all the ties and whistles.

coming of age in the context of boarding school, parental divorce, and frou-frou brit expats in africa. a tad hard to follow at times but hoult & byrne play their father-son tensions quite well, and it's watson who saves the show (and them).

One Word AMAZING MOVIE Wait Fuck Two Words Amazing Movie No More Caps Lock.This movie was great it was like one of those movies thats based in the a Different Time so your Like Um Maybe But let me say i said the exact same thing,I Was Wrong It Was amazing they in Throw Modern Sex,Fucks,And Crazy Bitches in this movie and at the end you still cry.I loved The Cast Again Still I Didn't Like Woolgar Never Heard Of Her But She Acted Amazing But I Dont Like Her.But Loved Nicholas or To Be Professional ill Say his Last Name I Loved Hoult and Watson. So It Was A Weird Movie I Didn't Know Exactly what it was About For A Bit And I Still Dont See a Big Moral or Point But Unlike Lost It Had A Small Point(No Affence Lost Fans I Watched All 6 Seasons Too),I Swear I Have OOO LOOK A BIRD Off Topic Sorry.I Loved This Movie Because It Had Everything For a Good Enjoyable Movie.So Dont Be a Hater And Watch This Movie Sincerely, Pointless Reviewer

I liked this movie for the quality of the acting rather than the plot. The central theme is the coming-of-age journey of Ralph Compton (played very well by Zachary Fox and Nicholas Hoult) but the performance that really captured my attention was that of Gabriel Bryne. Bryne plays Ralph's father who having been cheated on and abandoned by his wife falls into anger and despair but never loses his love for her. Bryne's portrayal is outstanding. I bought the DVD.

A boy's coming of age story happened in Swaziland, South Africa in the early 1970s. Could be corny but turns out to be nice, with above average writing & directing, as well as good ensemble cast.

Oh this movie was so good. Sad but in a happy way. Its oddly funny. But a lot about love and life. Nicely filmed too.