Nommer 37

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.

Foreign films don't get enough credit. The direction of this South African movie was incredible. Directors, often struggle with capturing these sensitive topics, but I thought the combination of emotional acting and intense storyline allowed these issues to be illustrated in a way they deserved. The film, which follows a paraplegic man who attempts to use criminal means to make his way out of poverty, gets progressively more thrilling as it goes along. I was on the edge of my seat by the end of the movie! A must see for anyone who loves suspense.

The story is a stark crime story that plays on suspenseful thrusts of drama and intense characters. The cast give varied but strong performances. At times scenes feel forced against conflicting backdrops but inevitably that slight aspect seems as intentional as Hitchcock's "Rear Window". Dumisa shows a brilliance in this ability to mirror obvious influence of western filmmakers while never coming off as mimicry.

"Number 37" performs as a dark, off-quilter slow burner where action is concerned. There are moments when the suspense builds into actual thrills. However a lot of the violence and bloodshed acts more as aesthetic instead of pressure points in the film. Still enough thriller elements exist to really tease a Tarantino quality. Overall "Number 37" is a strong, contemporary crime thriller worth the watch.

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.

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.