WONDROUS OBLIVION (DVD) DVD

Wondrous Oblivion
Writer/director Paul Morrison, who directed the cross-cultural period drama Solomon and Gaenor, returns to similar ground, though in a lighter vein, with Wondrous Oblivion. Sam Smith stars as David Wiseman, a Jewish boy living in London in 1960 who dreams of being a world-class athlete. David is totally obsessed with cricket, and loves playing, even though he is one of the worst players at his school. His parents, Ruth (Emily Woof of The Full Monty) and Victor (Stanley Townsend), are struggling with the bigoted residents of their working-class neighborhood, but the neighbors get a bit more friendly to the Wisemans when Dennis (Delroy Lindo), a Jamaican laborer, and his family move in next door. David is shocked and delighted when he realizes that Dennis and his daughter, Judy (Leonie Elliott), are installing a cricket pitch in their backyard. Before long, and against the wishes of his worried parents, David is spending a lot of time next door, becoming very friendly with Judy, and becoming a much better cricket player. Ruth gradually warms to Dennis, but the rest of the neighborhood grows increasingly hostile. Wondrous Oblivion was presented by the Jewish Museum and the Film Society of Lincoln Center as part of the 2005 New York Jewish Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Cast Sam Smith as David Wiseman Delroy Lindo as Dennis Samuels Emily Woof as Ruth Wiseman Stanley Townsend as Victor Wiseman Angela Wynter as Grace Samuels Leonie Elliott as Judy Samuels Naomi Simpson as Dorothy Samuels Jo Stone-Fewings as Mr. Pugh Gary McDonald as Garry Sobers

Crew Tom Read - Supervising Art Director Stewart Le Marechal - Associate Producer Toby Whale - Casting Joan McCann - Casting Lesley Stewart - Co-producer Anushia Nieradzik - Costume Designer Josh Robertson - First Assistant Director Paul Morrison - Director David Freeman - Editor Kevin Loader - Executive Producer David Kosse - Executive Producer Michael Kuhn - Executive Producer Ilona Sekacz - Composer (Music Score) Eve Stewart - Production Designer Nina Kellgren - Cinematographer Jonny Persey - Producer Danny Hambrook - Sound/Sound Designer Graham Longhurst - Special Effects Supervisor Paul Morrison - Screenwriter

Wondrous Oblivion
Aspiring to the feel-good, cross-cultural, sports-obsessed success of Bend It Like Beckham, Paul Morrison's Wondrous Oblivion flirts with the saccharine sentimentality in large part thanks to naturalistic, earthy performances by Delroy Lindo and Emily Woof (with a shaky Eastern European accent) and finely etched period details; the film manages to generate genuine sweetness. The film follows David Wiseman (Sam Smith), a flighty Jewish boy, as he navigates bigotry and the desire for assimilation in 1950s London. The immigrant child's passion for cricket seems the guiding force of his life, but the film believably depicts an essential empathy and humanity beneath that surface obsession which ends up being a stronger motivator. David's flights of fancy (he talks to and plays imaginary matches with his collection of cricket cards) seem clumsily envisioned at first, but Morrison builds on the conceit nicely. The relationship between Ruth (Woof) and Dennis (Lindo) also begins awkwardly, but grows more affecting as the film progresses. Morrison's film overcomes its minor shortcomings because it's warm and amusing, and its characters -- decent people for the most part, who stumble a bit in finding their way in a new place -- are convincingly portrayed. We want to believe in them, and Morrison film makes it easy enough. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
 

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General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel Additional Features: Commentary track with director Paul Morrison Behind the scenes featurette Trailer Palm previews 5.1 surround sound MPAA Rating: PG DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 101 min   DVD Chapters: Disc #1 -- Wondrous Oblivion 1. Wondrous [5:50] 2. Better Dreams [5:46] 3. The New Neighbors [6:27] 4. A Cricket Net [5:25] 5. A Real Professional [7:35] 6. A Boy Is a Boy [5:27] 7. New Friends [5:55] 8. Superboy [3:40] 9. At the Dance [7:23] 10. An Art Form [5:05] 11. In Love [5:58] 12. Happy Birthday [3:34] 13. A Ruined Friendship [8:17] 14. A Place for a Jewish Boy [4:20] 15. Arson [6:26] 16. Proper Friends [4:56] 17. No One Can Walk Past You [9:11] 18. Credits [4:16]