The World Unseen (2007)

A good movie, and amazing actresses, I just wasn't in the right head space to watch women and black people get oppressed and abused for an 1.5 hour straight...

⋆⋆⋆ // 3 STARS

Director: Shamin Sarif (she actually wrote the book version as well!)

Where to Watch: I watched this movie on 123 movies!

Google User Rating: 90% liked this movie!

"Will you imagine, just for now, just these moments, that nothing exists except for me and you." (Amina)

This movie is based on the book of the same title, and you may recognize the two leading ladies from a different movie I reviewed! Yep, it's the same two actresses from the movie I Can't Think Straight! We love them though, so it's all good.

Quick Synopsis

This movie is set in Cape Town, South Africa, during the 1950s. Amina runs the Location Cafe, and welcomes anyone, including black people. She's openly a lesbian, which of course puts a target on her back with the police, as well as her association with Africans. Miriam is

married to a abusive and incredibly conservative Indian man who only wants her to care for the children and tend to their shop, leaving Miriam with very little choice in her life. Not to mention, her husband is cheating on her. She meets Amina at her cafe one day, however, and they instantly have a connection. Omar expresses his needs for a farm in his backyard, and Amina, being the bad bitch she is, offers her services. Omar ultimately accepts, and soon Amina and Miriam begin sharing large amounts of time together as the farm work is done. Miriam is inspired by Amina's defiance to the law and social standards, and the two's relationship evolves into something more. Using driving lessons as an excuse to meet, Amina and Miriam have fallen in love with each other, but how are they possible going to be together in a world where they'll be beaten and shamed for loving each other? Will Miriam be able to take a leap of faith and leave her abusive husband for Amina? Watch to find out!

Official Review

Ladies with daddy issues, start your engines! This movie might not be for you. I was in a bit of slump this afternoon (I got really into execution by electric chair for a couple of hours, it

was so depressing... anyways), and seeing Miriam's husband go ballistic 10 times and hit her/throw things was pretty shitty? What's the word when you see the one thing you're most afraid of, aka getting stuck with an abusive man for a husband. And the abuse towards the African people was so, so disturbing and disgusting... this is not a light hearted movie at all. But besides that, it wasn't a bad movie at all, and I would recommend it. Amina and Miriam had great chemistry in this, just like they did in I Can't Think Straight, and the relationship was developed and realistic. The characters were great, the side characters great as well, production wise this movie was very impressive, it just didn't have any umpfh to take it into 5 star territory, let alone 4 star territory. I didn't give this movie it's 4th star because of a couple reasons... the end, although realistic, wasn't quite what I wanted, but that alone wasn't the cause. The abuse, beatings, and aggression throughout the entire movie was so unsettling, however if you can deal with that, then do watch it. On a lighter note, I love Amina so damn much, she's an Idgie. If you haven't watched Fried Green Tomato's, ignore that comment, but she's your bad ass, screw the law, rebellious, overthrow the government (literally), accept everyone no matter what people say type of person, and

that's HOT. I understand Miriam's character completely, and much respect to her, but it was really depressing watching her be controlled by her husband. But, it was great to see her start to get some freedom with Miriam... I don't know. It's South Africa in the 1950s; think Apartheid type stuff. Let alone homophobia and sexism... it's pretty much every "ism" and "phobia" wrapped in one movie, and I'm not sure the beautiful relationship could make me think it was worth watching. However, that's just my opinion, please watch, make your own, and let me know what you think!

Cast/Heartthrobs

Queen, you have done it again. Sheetal Sheth as Amina is heartthrob number one. Hot as hell, fiery, wore almost exclusively pleated pants and button up shirts? HOT. And, of course, and amazing actress. Really, the technicalities of this movie were top tier. Lisa Ray as Miriam

was great, naturally, but her character was just too shy and not a risk taker at all, but the issue is obviously I completely understand why. But still gorgeous. There were actually a couple subplots I didn't explain with some other characters, but they were wonderfully done. Relevant and interesting, I think if you watch the movie, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the acting and the characters in the movie. So in conclusion, yes it's a good movie, but watching Miriam get abused by her husband (and the other 5 people who got abused in this movie) was disturbing enough for me to not give this movie a 4 star.