The Kandasamys: a triumph for SA cinema
FILM REVIEW: Keeping up with the Kandasamys
DIRECTOR: Jayan Moodley CAST: Jailoshini Naidoo, Rajesh Gopie, Maeshni Naicker, Koobeshan Naidoo, Mishqah Parthiephal and Madhushan Singh.
REVIEWER: Colin Roopnarain
PREMIERING a month ahead of its general release at Gateway on Thursday, Keeping up With
the Kandasamys is a triumph for South African cinema.
Gloriously shot and showcasing not only Durban but also Chatsworth, the film is less a tale of feuding families and rather a story of friendship and forgiveness.
The families, at first, seem to be different.
When we first met the Kandasamys and the Naidoos, we see they live next to each other.
But we also see how different their lives are.
And it’s mostly down to the mothers.
Shanti (played by Maeshni Naicker) is the down-to-earth mother, who cooks the best food and doesn’t understand why phones don’t have buttons.
Jennifer (Jailoshini) is the juice-cleanse, cracker-eating mom, who finds Shanti’s ways embarrassing.
Once friends, the two have turned into rivals with sharp jabs and nasty looks.
Unbeknown to them, the rest of the family are secretly getting along.
Their husbands play golf in secret and the kids, well, they do what kids do and fall in love.
Discovering the forbidden romance, the mothers reluctantly unite to hatch a plan that will prevent their families from ever uniting, especially over a potential grandchild.
Mishaps and misunderstandings ensue, the stakes are raised, and it seems likely that their plan will work. Or will it? The script is sharp and bitingly honest.
At times, it’s unexpectedly naughty.
The production values are impressive, bathing the characters and city in a gorgeous light and imbuing the film with an almost international feel.
Most impressive are director Jayan Moodley’s choices: opting for restraint and nuance instead of overblown drama or slapstick. This allows her actors to shine. Jailoshini in particular, is excellent.
She’s technically the antagonist but brings incredible depth to the role and makes her character feel real and sympathetic.
Maeshni is a joy to watch, with fantastic timing showcasing her flair for comedy.
But she also brings a realness to the role that gives the film and story its heart.
Rajesh proves why he is such a sought after actor, making the most of his supporting role, but bringing with it a sort of quiet gravitas.
There were some great side characters, who chewed up the scenery.
Aiya (Marian Bassa) had the audience in stitches with her oneliners, blunt honesty and pressure problems.
The character portrayed by Rory Booth, who is also a co-writer, had girls swooning (and screaming) for his small role as an ex-boyfriend and at the end a character named Asevan had everyone giggling.
The film is far from perfect and you’ve seen this story before.
As impressive as the leads are, it’s when they’re are not around that the film’s weaker moments seem to be more evident.
The younger cast, while good to look at, felt a little green, a little stiff, a little too rehearsed.
The big dance number at the end was stunning to watch but the execution of the choreography underwhelmed.
Ultimately, the film delivers and then some.
It raises the bar for local films in almost every aspect and transcends its genre. It’s not an Indian film. It is a South African film at its heart and I can see this being a runaway hit that makes a splash in international waters.
Well done, Durban.