Wondrous Oblivion

Empire Magazine described Wondrous Oblivion as "a cross between Billy Elliot and Far From Heaven." That happens to be an interesting comparison for this movie from Academy Award nominee Paul Morrison (Best Foreign Language Film for 2000's Solomon and Gaenor). It's a sweet-natured 1960s-era coming-of-age story about a young Jewish boy named David Wiseman (Sam Smith) in London with the head and passion (but not the skill) for the game of cricket. Things turn around when David is tutored by his new Jamaican neighbors, specifically the upstanding Dennis Samuels (Delroy Lindo). While race and immigration are obvious elements in the mix, the Far From Heaven angle appears when David's mother (Emily Woof) develops strong feelings for Samuels and begins to act on them, even though both are married to supportive, caring spouses. But Oblivion, for all its good and wondrous intentions, falls short of reaching the mark of the two films to which it has been compared. It is simply an earnest portrait of its period with a solid commentary track from writer/director Morrison. (tt stern-enzi) Grade: C+