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The World Unseen (2007)

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Average Rating: 4.6/10
Reviews Counted: 24
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 18

No consensus yet.

Average Rating: 4.8/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 5

No consensus yet.

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Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 834

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Movie Info

The owner of an apartheid-era Cape Town caf� experiences an attraction that threatens to change her life forever in director Shamim Sarif's look into a South Asian community in a divided South Africa. Amina (Sheetal Sheth) is the rebellious proprietor of the popular Location Caf� -- a destination spot for adventurous social outlaws who resent having their lives dictated by racist laws. From the black waitress who doesn't realize her place in South African society to the older white woman who

PG-13, 1 hr. 44 min.

Drama, Romance

Directed By: Shamim Sarif

Written By: Shamim Sarif

In Theaters: Nov 7, 2008 Wide

On DVD: May 4, 2010

Regent Releasing/here! Films

It suffers from an abundance of transparent acting, simplistic plot twists and music that essentially screams, 'These are important scenes to behold!'

November 14, 2008 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle

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Jonathan Curiel

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

Drawing upon her own heritage as a descendant of South Africa's large Indian community, Sarif brings more than a dozen interconnected characters to life.

November 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times

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Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

It doesn't leave you cold, but it doesn't exactly make an impression, either.

November 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail

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Kamal Al-Solaylee

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

Less an account of hatred and injustice in apartheid-torn South Africa than it is a soap opera-ish romance that could easily be an episode of The L-Word.

November 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Toronto Star

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Susan Walker

Toronto Star

Top Critic

Never begins to tap the talent at its disposal.

November 7, 2008 Full Review Source: New York Times

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Jeannette Catsoulis

New York Times

Top Critic

An extremely rare case of a pic version both written and directed by the book's original author, "The World Unseen" reps a strong argument for leaving screen adaptations to other, more capable hands.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

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Derek Elley

Variety

Top Critic

If Sarif improves with experience, she might regret ever having allowed this effort to be seen by the public.

April 9, 2009 Full Review Source: Sunday Times (UK)

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Edward Porter

Sunday Times (UK)

Both films are politically daring as well as what used to be called risque. Neither, I'm afraid, is well directed or acted.

April 9, 2009 Full Review Source: Observer [UK]

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Philip French

Observer [UK]

No amount of heaving bosom or quivering bottom lip can evoke a romantic frisson if the emotion simply isn't there.

April 3, 2009 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Sarah Cohen

Time Out

As drama, it's insipid. As erotica, it's useless.

April 3, 2009 Full Review Source: Film4

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Ali Catterall

Film4

You wait all year for a lesbian comedy drama with the production values of a 1980s TV movie and the acting standard of a carpet shampoo advert, and then two come along at once.

April 3, 2009 Full Review Source: Times [UK]

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Wendy Ide

Times [UK]

A curiously strait-laced, timid and self-conscious affair.

April 3, 2009 Full Review Source: Guardian [UK]

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Xan Brooks

Guardian [UK]

While the visuals never rise above TV-movie adequacy and some background acting hovers at am-dram level, The World Unseen's central story is strong enough to hold attention.

April 3, 2009 Full Review Source: Sky Movies

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Rob Daniel

Sky Movies

Intimacy, nuance and emotional punch are conspicuous only by their absence. Dreary.

April 3, 2009 Full Review Source: Total Film

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Kevin Harley

Total Film

This tale of forbidden love in the early days of apartheid South Africa suffers from heavy-handed direction and stodgy exposition, but it is made tolerable by its two central performances.

April 3, 2009 Full Review Source: Independent

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Anthony Quinn

Independent

Sharif's second film maintains the small screen soap opera feel of I Can't Think Straight, but it remains a watchable lesbian romance, heightened by strong central performances from Ray and Sheth.

April 2, 2009 Full Review Source: ViewLondon

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Matthew Turner

ViewLondon

Possibly too restrained for its own good, the fictional story still makes a quiet impact.

November 10, 2008 Full Review Source: Film Journal International

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Eric Monder

Film Journal International

Engaging and intelligent.

November 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Jam! Movies

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Liz Braun

Jam! Movies

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The World Unseen

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An interesting movie! Set in 1950's South Africa, Miriam and Amina meet, and are instantly intrigued by each other. Miriam is a housewife, and a mother of three children. She abides her husband's every wish, and conforms herself to the upholding of her home. Dealing with her husband's adulterous affair with her

April 22, 2008

Leo L

Super Reviewer

Beautiful directorial debut with great (and stunning!) lead actresses. Unfortunately too concerned with conveying as much of the book as possible, the transition from the great novel to the screen wasn't entirely successful in terms of storytelling. The cinematography and cast is very good, and for a first film this is

September 17, 2008