Paradise Stop

I’ve never really been a fan of South African productions. In my opinion, we’ve always tried to emulate and copy the Americans or British, rather than portray our own uniqueness. Not so with this film.Besides having a very decent plot with very believable characters, the film also exposes a bit of the reality that our Police officials deal with on a daily basis. Unlike their American counterparts, South African police do not live in double-story houses and drive expensive sports cars. Quite the opposite. This film deals with that reality in its main character, very competently played by Kenneth Nkosi, who we have come to know and love as a skilled actor.With a very “real” supporting cast, Kenneth shows us the emotional realities that his character faces and we can empathize with him. He makes us feel the frustrations of being an overworked and underpaid public servant, dealing with bureaucratic lethargy and red tape. He also, very poignantly, gives us a taste of the need of every family man to provide abundantly for his family and the frustration of not quite getting there.In short, it’s a good, lighthearted crime drama, with a hint of comedy and a smidgen of action, all very well portrayed by a delightful cast that makes it look all too easy. Not Oscar material, but certainly well worth spending some time in front of the TV!