The World Unseen

2008

The World Unseen

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

24%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 25

69%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,000
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Movie Info

Set in 1950s South Africa at the beginning of apartheid, free-spirited Amina has broken all the rules of her own conventional Indian community and the new apartheid-led government, by running a café with Jacob, her black business partner. When she meets Miriam, a young wife and mother, their unexpected attraction pushes Miriam to question the rules that bind her to a traditional role. As Amina helps Miriam's sister-in-law to hide from the police, a chain of events is set in motion that changes both women forever.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (for mature thematic material involving sexuality, and violence)
  • Genre:
    Drama, Romance
  • Directed By:
    Shamim Sarif
  • Written By:
    Shamim Sarif
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Regent Releasing/here! Films

Cast

Lisa Ray
as Miriam
Sheetal Sheth
as Amina
Parvin Dabas
as Omar
Parvin Dabbas
Nandana Sen
as Rehmat
Grethe Fox
as Madeleine
David Dennis
as Jacob
Bernard White
as Mr. Harjan
Natalie Becker
Colin Moss
as De Witt
Roderick Priestley
as Stewart
Amber Rose Revah
as Begum
Nathalie Becker
as Farah
Rajesh Gopie
as Sadru
Avantika Akerkar
as Mrs. Harjan
Leonie Casanova
as Doris
Ethan Sarif-Kattan
as Sam
Keziah Robinson
as Yasmin
Usha Khan
as Grandmother
Scott Cooper
as James
Sibusiso Menziwa
as Robert
Luca Sarif-Kattan
as Sadru's Son
Saadia Saban
as Sadru's Daughter
Sivuyile Ngesi
as John
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Critic Reviews for The World Unseen

All Critics (25) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (19)

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

    Apr 3, 2009 | Rating: 2/6 | Full Review…

    Sarah Cohen

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • 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.

    Apr 3, 2009 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Wendy Ide

    Times (UK)
    Top Critic

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

    Apr 3, 2009 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Xan Brooks

    Guardian
    Top Critic

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

    Nov 14, 2008 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    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.

    Nov 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Kevin Thomas

    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic

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

    Nov 7, 2008 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Kamal Al-Solaylee

    Globe and Mail
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (25)

Audience Reviews for The World Unseen

  • Jun 02, 2009
    Beautiful settings and the story that highlights the Apartheid Regime aswell as being a story of love and standing up for what you believe in. The acting was somewhat ropey at the start but settled as the movie went along.. and I like the fact that there was a pleasantly simple and more realistic ending rather than 'happy ever after'. Not Bad.
    ♥ Chani L Super Reviewer
  • Sep 17, 2008
    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 extremely well done. Overall a heartfelt narrative set in Apartheid South Africa, centered around a tender lesbian romance, but also filled with interesting glimpses into Apartheid realities. I just discovered that "I can't think straight" was actually shot before this, so ignore the part about the debut... Two very good films in a row, kudos to Shamim Sarif.
    Ina S Super Reviewer
  • Apr 22, 2008
    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 sister-in-law, she finds motivation in taking risks and learning to do things on her own. Amina is unmarried, and runs a store with her business partner, Jacob. Carefree and independent, Amina tends to tempt the boundaries of the law. Indifferent to the opinions of others in the Indian community, Amina wishes only to live life the way that she seeks to. The personalities that mark each individual enables, and draws, them together. Great cast- Sheetal Sheth, Lisa Ray, Parvin Dabas, Nandana Sen, Nathalie Becker, David Dennis, Grethe Fox, Colin Moss, and Roderick Priestley. Worthy!
    Leo L Super Reviewer
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