Nommer 37

The movie is nothing to rave about. But, it has a good plot and acting is pretty okay as well. Worth investing your time if you are after a decent thriller.

Saw this at Sydney Film Festival 2018, hosted by Nosipho. Fantastic interpretation of original concept. The subtitles proved useful for conveying the original lamguage wit. Dialogue and scenes well integrated into modern South Africa, but with a global appeal. I though Randall did a fantastic acting job, and the other sub characters had meaning. I may be biased by previously living in the Cape, but even my global friends understood the messages and screen play. My only critique was that the police woman's capitulation to corruption could have been further played out, but this is minor and does not distract from the main plot.

In this Afrikaans Rear Window Randall comes home in a wheelchair. His girl gives him binoculars so he can occupy himself while he's alone all day, cause she works. He spies on his neighbors and grumbles and tries to brew up a plan to get the loan shark off his back that he owes a ton of money to. One day he sees a murder, right across from his apartment. This flick is wonderfully paced and it has great suspense brewing all through our hero's bad ideas. I especially like the relationship between him and his lady-love. She loves him and has his back but he really has to grow up.

The true tragedy that makes this film so powerful comes from the unfortunate truth that humans are inherently "greedy little piggies". Director/Writer Nosipho Dumisa powerfully embodies this flaw in each of her characters, and makes it highly individualized through a screenplay that relies more on character development than gore. The conflict of every role is crafted by powerful performances, particularly Monique Rockman, who plays her role of the abused girlfriend as seemingly regretful more than she is spiteful. Every instance of tension is capped-off by an unwarranted act of violence that draws sympathy from audiences. Dumisa makes it impossible to ignore the unfortunate circumstances that protagonists and antagonists alike are thrown into, which had such a strong impact that I found myself questioning my own morality as I exited the theater.

Especially if you are watching this in Germany and or another country that puts the comparison or likelihood in the title. Rear Window or Fenster zum Hof = Window to the yard is the Hitchock movie I'm talking about. So this movie is called "Fenster zum Tod" = Window to Death ... and if you watch this, it is not far fetched. There are simillarities to say the least.

But while we have someone watching someone else through their window, this is not as tense as the Original was. If you compare those two, you most likely will not like this newer altered version of it. Unless you are into action and characters doing things as wrong/stupid as possible to create even more tension ... still overall you can enjoy this for what it is ...