Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageThe Secret Laughter of Women (1998)
Director: Peter Schwabach
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Single mother and landscape gardener Nimi (Long) likes life among the close knit Nigerian community of a coastal town in southern France, but finds herself subjected to a tussle between the traditionally minded womenfolk and her fanciful 7-year-old Sammy (Roberts). While the former eye up the eligible new preacher (Bakare) as a potential husband, Sammy hatches similar ambitions for his new friend Matthew (Firth), a successful English fantasy comicbook author who summers from his 'open' modern marriage in a nearby villa. Though not short on good intentions, as a would-be romantic comedy the film's unguarded naivety doesn't pay off, and attempts to keep the drama light, sunny and sensitive often lapse into rose tinted whimsy or quixotism. It's more romantic than comic, and more rambling than romantic; and while on the whole the acting is a plus, there are times when the performers sound like they're reading from the page.Author: NB
Cast & crew
Director: Peter Schwabach
Cast: Colin Firth, Nia Long, Dan Lett, Joke Silva, Ariyon Bakare, Joy Elias Rilwan, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Bella Enaharo, Oluwafisayo Roberts full cast
Duration: 99 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Hippies who work for The Man
To celebrate George Clooney comedy 'The Men who Stare at Goats', we look back at six memorable onscreen hippies who fought the system from within
Roland Emmerich's guide to disaster movies
Ahead of the release of '2012', Roland Emmerich offers his ten tips on creating the perfect global catastrophe
Grant Heslov: interview
Grant Heslov, director of 'The Men who Stare at Goats' talks about his old pal George Clooney, his interest in the paranormal, and his fond memories of working on 'Happy Days'
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Michael Jackson's This Is It: review
Kenny Ortega's posthumous concert film is a rousing eulogy for one of pop's great enigmas
Michael Haneke: The man behind the menace
From Cannes to Munich to London, Dave Calhoun tours Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Lone Scherfig talks 'An Education'
Danish director Lone Scherfig was an unlikely choice for a very English affair like 'An Education'. Cath Clarke meets her
How Jane Campion brought John Keats back to life
Time Out gets Romantic with the ‘difficult’ New Zealander about her new film, 'Bright Star'
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now