Wondrous Oblivion

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Cast

Sam Smith
as David Wiseman

Leagh Conwell
as Jessop

Delroy Lindo
as Dennis Samuels

Dominic Barklem
as Pritchard

Jo Stone-Fewings
as Mr. Pugh

Angela Wynter
as Grace Samuels

Emily Woof
as Ruth

Leonie Elliott
as Judy Samuels

Yasmin Paige
as Lilian

Naomi Simpson
as Dorothy Samuels

Richard Ashton
as W.G. Grace

Carol MacReady
as Mrs. Wilson

Gary McDonald
as Garry Sobers

Stanley Townsend
as Victor

Osnat Schmool
as Mrs. Glickstein

Mark Penfold
as Head Teacher

Tom Roberts
as James Bryce

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Critic Reviews for Wondrous Oblivion

Audience Reviews for Wondrous Oblivion

• Jul 17, 2010

  The term "Coming of Age" has become somewhat of a cliché, but director Paul Morrison has given audiences such a well-crafted, beautifully-rendered tale, that an obligatory inclusion by this reviewer of the term will be quite forgiven here. Think: Air Raid Araby. It tends to be heavy-handed at times, but the spot-on performances carry the weight splendidly. In this PG-13-rated drama Wondrous Oblivion, a young Jewish boy (Sam Smith III) learns to tackle adversity in post-war 1940s England after his Jamaican neighbors teach him the game of cricket. A cross between Barry Levinson's American fable Avalon and the British hit Billy Elliot, Wondrous Oblivion wears its well-worn adversity theme like a badge...but, because the scenario is wholly original, not to point of being over-bearing. Rather, this import plays out breezily, stumbling only slightly when the story veers off into an unnecessary sub-plot featuring the boy's mother (Woof) and mentor neighbor (Lindo). Should they remain oblivious to this rub, however, moviegoers will enjoy two hours of near-wonderment. Bottom line: Wondrously told.
  Jeff B Super Reviewer
• Jan 25, 2008

  I don't understand much about Cricket but this was a good movie about friendship.
  Ida K Super Reviewer
• Nov 14, 2007

  [font=Century Gothic]"Wondrous Oblivion" takes place in South London in 1960 where David Wiseman(Sam Smith) is the child of Jewish refugees(Emily Woof & Stanley Townsend). He attends a private school where despite his love for the sport of cricket, he cannot play a lick. One day, the Wisemans get new neighbors from Jamaica. The father(Delroy Lindo) builds a cricket pitch in his backyard to coach his daughter, Judy(Leonie Elliott), in the sport. And soon he is also coaching David, too...[/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Wondrous Oblivion" is an amiable bit of anti-nostalgia that is well-meaning to the hilt. It deftly avoids the sugarcoating that usually occurs with coming-of-age movies, in order to explore the racism and prejudice of the day, while also promoting the broadening of one's horizons. The movie is about how a society improves and diversifies itself by embracing the children of immigrants by way of the dominant culture. In the movie, this is embodied in cricket(And there is a creative use for a cricket ball in the movie.) where playing and having fun are important, not winning. [/font]
  Walter M Super Reviewer
• May 09, 2007

  A simple, yet wonderful drama.
  Kevin M Super Reviewer

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