Africa United

[PeteYork]

Saw a trailer at the cinema last night and think it looks good as a 'kids on a journey' sort of film. At the end of the trailer there was a message saying 25% of profits were going to Comic Aid.

[cheekyweelassie]

Argh I don't believe it! After thinking I wouldn't be able to see this, our plans changed so I could make it after all. I was really looking forward to it. But.... my partner was late getting out of work, then we missed a bus by seconds, so we sped off to the tube only to find there were severe delays on the line, so we ran back to the bus stop and missed another bus by seconds, then ran around the corner to head the bus off, got on the bus, crawled through traffic, then the bus changed its destination to somewhere we've never heard of and miles before the cinema. By now it was already 6pm. We got off, and went home.

So, now I'm just interested to read reviews from people who did get to the screening, and I'm just keeping everything crossed that I win tickets for Sunday in the competition I posted earlier.

The end.

[yogi]

Just seen this in a fairly empty screening in Manchester.

It was ok, and had a certain charm, but at times felt a bit amateurish. And some of issues raised were done in quite a heavy handed way.

That said maybe the lack of polish added to its charm, like say The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

I must admit I did check my watch a few times, even though its quite short.

BBC films are involved so it should turn up on TV soon enough for anyone who misses it or doesn't fancy p*ying.

[Ms Thrifty]

Saw this at Croydon, courtesy of a_person. I don't mean to belittle it by saying it's a charming little film as it is. It certainly has dark moments, a la Slumdog or Sin Nombre, but they are fewer and not quite as nerve-wracking, whilst still providing more than enough tension. But ultimately it's another of those heart-warming, feelgood, fairy tale-type films in which the good guys win in the end, and none the worse for it.

[steve9872]

This movie had the most unusual starting sequence for a movie I have ever seen. The kid talking about condoms is part of the movie and the theme does reappear later a number of times. Turning a condom into a football is a work of genius and is quite a surprise when you first see it, but when footballs are expensive and condoms are given away I suppose its inevitable that this would happen.

[tamanna3]

I saw this film today.....I found the football (made of condom) very amusing....you are right only a gifted person could create that :0) .....the film is ok sorts...i would rate it a 6-7/10

[Ms Thrifty]

Link to tonight's R4 "Front Row" which has an item on the film.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... ca_United/

[kevinknapman]

Saw this earlier and thought it was enjoyable enough.
The kids were great, especially the cocky but ultimately naive Dudu. The occasional animations that accompanied Dudu's stories were very charming.
It's main problem though was its uncertain tone that never quite gelled. On one hand it wants to be a feel-good road movie with lots of humour but it also wants to be a slice of gritty realism. The shadow of war is hinted at in Congolese boy soldier Foreman George who joins the three kids on their journey but is on the run from rebel soldiers trying to retrieve money he has stolen from their general. The subject of HIV and Aids is also dealt with. Dudu and his sister's Mother and Father died of the disease and at one point they visit a HIV/Aids test centre. There's also a slight suggestion of the African class divide. Dudu is from the streets whilst his friend Fabrice comes from a comfortable background. But curiously this never really goes anywhere. It moves at too fast a pace to do these serious subjects any justice.
This mix of feel good and gritty has unsurprisingly led to comparisons to Slumdog Millionaire but this is unlikely to make as much of an impact. It also reminded me slightly of Tsotsi from a few years back, gritty but also sentimental (the lead actor in that actually makes an appearance as one of the men chasing after George).
Overall it is a watchable film with a few good qualities that never quite works. Too dark for kids but a little too slight for adults.

[mdweaver]

Agree with all the posts above. It was enjoyable enough, but it definitely felt like the writers/directors weren't sure how feel good or gritty they wanted it to be. Occassionaly it came accross as a little amateurish, but still had a kind of charm. 7/10

[opas]

I agree with most of what Kevinknapman said above, there is something about the film that doesn't quite come together. The film deals with some very serious issues and all these things come to the forefront as they embark on this journey, but it doesn't always seem to fit as it should.

I doubt it will become a classic but I still really enjoyed it, even if it was just for Dudu's one-liners. How could I not like it, the boy wore a Fabregas shirt and lives by the motto 'what would Wenger do?'? Plus that briefcase had me in stitches. Brilliant.

I thought the footballer friend wasn't a great actor and let them down a bit, but he obviously had the other skills which were crucial for the role. The film is not very long and Dudu's comic character with bright ideas and unintentional mishaps kept me entertained.

Not as polished or well put together as Slumdog Millionaire but a sweet (and sometimes sad) story that is worth watching if you get the chance. 7.5/10 from me.