Majorthebys Charming and brutal

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Griff Lees Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

MartinHafer I am going to be visiting South Africa in a few weeks, so I am trying to find as many films from the country as I can--sort of to get me in the mood. Unfortunately, there just aren't that many films from this country available here in the US. Fortunately, "Cape of Good Hope" is not just set in South Africa, but it's filmed in Cape Town--one of the places I will be visiting. And, fortunately, it's not a film about apartheid--as few films about South Africa available from Netflix are about the post-apartheid era.The film centers on the lives of several people associated with an animal shelter. All of them seem to have some problems in their lives--some a lot more serious than others. And, the cast is made up of many ethnicities and backgrounds--much like South Africa itself.Jean-Claude is an immigrant from the Congo. He was an astronomy professor before being forced to leave due to the war. He's got a terrific smile and seems quite kind. He falls for a single-mother whose own mother is very prejudiced--and wants her to marry the preacher and not 'some foreigner'.Kate is a beautiful and sweet young lady. However, she is an idiot--picking a nasty MARRIED man. She has a lot going for herself--except for self-confidence and the ability to pick men. Plus, she's afraid to have a healthy relationship. She knows a vet who is single--his wife passed away some time ago. Could there be a love connection? Or, will her own past history keep her from making smart choices? Sharifa is a Muslim lady who is having infertility issues with her husband. It's very awkward for them but they really would love kids.All in all, a very interesting story. I liked how the characters' stories often interrelated and the film showed a lot of growth in the characters as well. While not always realistic (since life doesn't always work out so perfectly), it's a nice feel-good film--full of hope and worth seeing with someone you love.

Ruby Liang (ruby_fff) This may seem like a small film - may not have the gloss and "slickness" of Hollywood productions, but the integral smallness of it all made it a successful and entertaining ensemble piece. Can almost say it's a symphony of sketches about the people and their lives at this Cape Town community.This is the "Must Love Dogs" movie with heart-warming stories of characters you care for and want to follow on what's happening in their lives and how they cope in their relationships. Sounds like soap (opera)? Isn't everyday life just? Having recently saw writer-director Rodrigo Garcia's "Nine Lives" - vignettes of nine women and how their lives intertwined, you might say director Mark Bamford's feature debut "Cape of Good Hope" is about three women: Kate, Sharifa and Lindiwe. But then, from another aspect, the script co-written by Bamford and his wife Suzanne Kay (also the producer) revolves around this animal rescue center (there's the must love dogs inference) with Kate the shelter owner who seems to relate more easily with animals than humans, Sharifa the receptionist who has fertility worries at home, and Jean-Claude, a Congo refugee who was an astronomy professor now trying to immigrate to Canada, helping Kate with tending the animals and training (taming) growling dogs. Through the three, we get to meet Morne, the gentle (widowed) veterinarian-studio dance pupil-cook who has his eyes on Kate; Habib, Sharifa's husband who tries to be nonchalant about his wife's pursuit of a viable pregnancy is a soft-hearted man after all; Lindiwe, the pretty single mom to Thabo (the little boy with his pet trick smart dog) who's a housekeeper by day and college student by night, caught Jean-Claude's eyes and a beautiful friendship blossoms.Now that's not all, we get to realize Kate is rather insecure in her relationships with her Mom, her Dad, and her married lover man (whom we mostly get to 'see' when she talks to him via phone). Then there's the episodes about Kate's Mom and her lover man. Soap it is. But human kindness flows and intertwines, as the obvious key quote uttered by Jean-Claude, that "Love is what keeps the universe glued together." There are magic moments when we see him with Lindiwe, marvelously portrayed by the pairing of Eriq Ebouaney and Nthati Moshesh. Debbie Brown played Kate, splendidly showing all the nervous tension of her insecurities in the most casual of manners, matching the naturalness of Morne Visser playing Morne. The rest of the cast, including the role of Lindiwe's mother, is equally effective and diverse (in spite of clichés). Same with the music by J.B. Eckl, somehow enhances and ties the stories together unobtrusively befitting.While checking on the word "Mutt," couldn't help but think of the parallel of taking care of mixed-breed dogs, that their temperament and rapport with humans matter, and the investment of time and energy in the nurturing of such is unequivocally similar to human to human relationships.This may be a small film, but it is richly packed, with its delightful surprises and humor inclusive.

Somany84 I was at the NY premier last night at the Angelika Theater, and they sold out the first two showings. From an independent film set in a location like South Africa, dealing with issues not usually dealt with in mainstream cinema, it had an amazing turn out. The director and producer (husband and wife) were there for the premier and had a question and answer session. They were joined by two of the leading actors from the movie, who provided insight into how well the filimg was received in Cape Town. For anyone who seeks an honest look at South Africa today, and wants a brilliantly conceived and produced movie, I highly suggest Cape of Good Hope.

danacon Saw Cape at the Tribeca film festival. Beautifully told story that takes the viewer into the lives of real people who somehow find 'hope' in hopeless situations. The movie takes place at an animal rescue center where the woman running it has more luck with dogs than lovers. Working there is a cultured astronomer from the Congo who has can't get a decent job because of his refugee status. The secretary there is a Muslim who desperately wants to have children. These all meet up with a domestic worker through her young boy's dog. As the plot develops love seems to hurdle over tremendous problems and life made hopeful. Audience response was very enthusiastic and the viewers were so totally wrapped up in the character's lives that they asked about a sequel. The cast of native Africans made this film believable and the direction of the film assumes the viewer is intelligent. This will be another 'whale rider' in popularity and beauty.