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Wah-Wah

Wah-Wah

Drama · 2005

Set at the end of the 1960s, as Swaziland is about to receive independence from United Kingdom, the film follows the young Ralph Compton, at 12, through his parents' traumatic separation, till he's 14.

Movie details

Wah-Wah

“Every family has its own language.”

2005 Drama 2h 0m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

5.8 / 10

Community rating

Set at the end of the 1960s, as Swaziland is about to receive independence from United Kingdom, the film follows the young Ralph Compton, at 12, through his parents' traumatic separation, till he's 14.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Wah-Wah?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Richard E. Grant

Written by

Richard E. Grant

Nicholas Hoult

Nicholas Hoult

Ralph Compton - 14 years

Gabriel Byrne

Gabriel Byrne

Harry Compton

Emily Watson

Emily Watson

Ruby Compton

Julie Walters

Julie Walters

Gwen Traherne

Miranda Richardson

Miranda Richardson

Lauren Compton

Celia Imrie

Celia Imrie

Lady Riva Hardwick

Z

Zac Fox

Ralph Compton - 11 years

Court is in session

Put Wah-Wah on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.