WONDROUS OBLIVION

UK, 2003, 106 minutes, Colour.
Sam Smith, Delroy Lindo, Emily Woof, Stanley Townsend, Angela Wynter, Leonie Elliott.
Directed by Paul Morrison.

Films about goodness often have a difficult time drawing in an audience - which is a great pity. When they use sport as a symbol of relationships and achievement, it depends on whether the audience knows and likes the sport, like running in Chariots of Fire, American football in Remember the Titans, soccer in Bend it Like Beckham. Wondrous Oblivion's sport is cricket.

This is a film that audiences will like - the cricket will be a bonus for fans. It is set in a south London street in 1960. A Jewish family, the Wisemans, live there, just tolerated by the old-fashioned English neighbours. David (Sam Smith in an engaging performance) goes to an upper class school where he is hopeless at cricket though he loves the game, collects cricket cards (which come to life and give him advice in a very pleasing way) and can do a fair commentary. Then his life changes.

West Indian neighbours move in next door. Neighbours gossip and criticise. Hate notes are pushed under the door. The skinhead equivalent louts of those days glare and menace the Wiseman's and the black Underground attendants - and this leads to some drastic racial prejudice.

However, the family next door love cricket. Dennis (Delroy Lindo who, in fact, grew up in London before going to the US) coaches his daughter Judy (a likeably lively performance from Leonie Elliot) and invites David in. He blossoms but can still get caught up, unguardedly, in the bigotry. This is his personal and moral challenge.

Director Paul Morrison (Solomon and Gaenor) evokes the atmosphere of a time that is gone but raises issues that are still with us. The anti-Semitism focuses on Mr and Mrs Wiseman (Stanley Townsend and Emily Woof), the stressed and busy husband and the naive wife. The criticism of increasing migration centres on the West Indians - whose cricketers like Sobers and Worral are characters in the plot and are feted - but who are the object of apprehension and harassment.

By the way, David is something of a dreamer. A teacher says that he is lost in wondrous oblivion.

1. The title, its meaning and tone? As explained in the film, the schoolmaster, as used by David? Its repetition throughout the film? The ending?

2. The London locations, south London, the streets, the contrast with the upper-class school? Synagogues, shops, the garment factory? The Sunday school? An authentic atmosphere of 1960? Costumes, décor, manners and style?

3. The use of cricket as a symbol, its place in England, in the Commonwealth, as a means of identity, as a bond? Its place still forty years later? England and the West Indies? The picture of the players, the matches? The clubs? The musical score - chants and hymns?

4. The film forty years after the events, the insights into race prejudice, the anti-Semitism of ordinary London in the 1960s, the growing hostility towards migrants, especially from the West Indies? Anti-black? The Nationalists, their violence and fascist beliefs? Gossip - and then violence?

5. The character of David, his age, his place in the family, relating to his mother and father, his sister? Going to school, dressing in whites, his not being very good at playing cricket, his scoring - and being advised that he need not wear whites? His collection of cards, their coming alive, speaking to him? His ability to do commentaries on the cricket?

6. The Weismans, their background, the migration of Mr Weisman from Germany, Ruth and her background in Germany and her growing up in England? Marrying at a young age? Their shop, the man selling the cards? Work, hard work? Their relationship with their children? Their house, the increasing pressures and stress, the pressures from neighbours, the hidden anti-Semitism, the moving in of the Jamaicans, the threatening notes? Fear, the attacks? The consequences?

7. The departure of their neighbours, the references to Yids? Denis and his family arriving, everybody curious, the explanation of the background, his preparing a place for them, his wife and daughters, the great sense of family, the noisy celebration when they arrived - and the apology for making noise afterwards? Jobs in factories, yet Denis supporting his family? His wife working?

8. The setting up of the cricket net in the backyard, Denis and his training his daughters, Judy and her particular ability with cricket? The practices, David and his father ducking as the ball hit the net? David, dressing in whites, his gauche manner, his being invited to join the practice? His learning, Denis and his abilities to teach? Having the drinks together, Ruth and her wariness, her seeing what was happening for David, bringing drinks? The father and his wariness? Denis becoming David's father figure?

9. David at school, his continually improving at cricket, his being allowed a match from the master who kept criticising him? His being the last man and staying in as long as he could? Making the team, looking at the lists? His birthday party and the boys coming to celebrate? The ticket and his being taken to Lord's? The enjoyment of the cricket match? The West Indians, meeting them at the club? His misinterpreting his mother's behaviour with Denis, thinking Denis was explaining cricket? His rudeness to Judy, not letting her into the party, the consequences, his attempts at apology, her hurt? Discussions with Denis? The invitation to the game - and his sacrificing the main match at school? Giving the cards away after they came alive and all talked to him?

10. Ruth, observing Denis, what was happening, bringing the drinks, Denis inviting her to the club, the dancing? The awakening, her approach to him? Her embarrassment, apology? The danger of alienation from her husband? Life at home, her realising what had happened, becoming closer to her husband? The decision to move house?

11. Denis, his character, hard work, bringing the family to England, love for his wife? Cricket and his knowledge? The home life, the friends, the relations? His love for his wife? Going to the social, dancing with Ruth, his gently rebuffing her?

12. The West Indians, the vitality? The club, the famous cricketers being there? The picnic, the cricket match? The religious background, the Sunday school scene - with David presenting the prizes? The Wiseman family going to synagogue?

13. David and Judy and their bonding, their ability to talk, discussing the grandparents, learning about war? Playing together? David shutting her out from the party? Being hurt, the discussions, the apology, the aftermath?

14. The English neighbours, their gossiping, comments on the Jewish people, on the blacks? The scene at the station with the rudeness to the station guard? The threats, the notes to Mr Wiseman? The young man, sinister attitudes, burning the house? David and his warning? Mr Wiseman and his heroics going into the house? The police standing by and not doing anything? The aftermath of the fire, the reaction of the neighbours - and their rebuilding the cricket net?

15. The issue of moving, David's severe reaction? The explanation to the family, Judy's reaction, changes in London and where people lived?

16. The emotional aspects of Judy being hurt, the apology - and the cricketers being at the picnic? David doing well?

17. The emotional response to the issues of family, growing up, life in London suburbs, Jewish families and prejudice, the difficulties of West Indian migrants? Positive images, the critique of prejudice? The film's relevance for decades later?