The World Unseen (2007)
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24% of critics liked it
(25 reviews) -
70% of users liked it
(909 ratings)
The owner of an apartheid-era Cape Town café 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 Café -- a… More The owner of an apartheid-era Cape Town café 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 Café -- 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 makes eyes at the handsome brown-skinned bachelor, these people like to have a little fun, and they know that they can just be themselves in the Location Café. When the apartheid police come knocking and Amina's conservative Indian neighbors cast an accusing eye, the emboldened café owner always stands up for her rights. Yet, despite her defiant exterior, Amina instantly turns soft when she meets the gaze of the beautiful Miriam (Lisa Ray). Despite the fact that Miriam is a married woman, she is endlessly fascinated by the free-thinking Amina. Eventually, Amina works up the courage to invite Miriam along for driving lessons, and both women succumb to the true power of their mutual attraction. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Shamim Sarif
- Written By
- Shamim Sarif
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
PG-13,
- In Theaters
- Nov 7, 2008 Wide
- Studio
- Regent Releasing/here! Films
Critic Reviews
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Sarah Cohen, Time Out
No amount of heaving bosom or quivering bottom lip can evoke a romantic frisson if the emotion simply isn't there.
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Jonathan Curiel, San Francisco Chronicle
It suffers from an abundance of transparent acting, simplistic plot twists and music that essentially screams, 'These are important scenes to behold!'
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Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
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.
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Kamal Al-Solaylee, Globe and Mail
It doesn't leave you cold, but it doesn't exactly make an impression, either.
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Susan Walker, Toronto Star
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.
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Cast
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Lisa Ray
as Miriam
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Sheetal Sheth
as Amina
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Parvin Dabas
as Omar
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Nandana Sen
as Rehmat
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David Dennis
as Jacob
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Grethe Fox
as Madeleine Smith
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Colin Moss
as DeWitt
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Roderick Priestley
as Stewart
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Nathalie Becker
as Farah
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Rajesh Gopie
as Sadru
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Amber Rose Revah
as Begum
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Bernard White
as Mr. Harjan
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Avantika Akerkar
as Mrs. Harjan
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Leonie Casanova
as Doris
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Ethan Sarif-Kattan
as Sam
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Keziah Robinson
as Yasmin
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Usha Khan
as Grandmother
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Scott Cooper
as James
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Sibusiso Menziwa
as Robert
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Luca Sarif-Kattan
as Sadru's Son
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Saadia Saban
as Sadru's Daughter
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Sivuyile Ngesi
as John
- Natalie Becker
