Boy Called Twist

2004
TV-PG
1h 55m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Boy Called Twist is the harrowing tale of a South African street-kid's search for love, based on Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist. Growing up neglected in a rural orphanage, Twist escap... Read allBoy Called Twist is the harrowing tale of a South African street-kid's search for love, based on Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist. Growing up neglected in a rural orphanage, Twist escapes to the unpredictable freedom of Cape Town, where he falls in with Fagin's gang of stree... Read allBoy Called Twist is the harrowing tale of a South African street-kid's search for love, based on Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist. Growing up neglected in a rural orphanage, Twist escapes to the unpredictable freedom of Cape Town, where he falls in with Fagin's gang of street urchins. With a gritty honesty steeped in its vibrant characters, Boy called Twist super... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

187

YOUR RATING

10User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

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User reviews10

6.5187

Featured reviews

2Coralknight

pathetic

This had the potential to be a really good "slice of life" in post-apartheid South Africa; something most Westerners don't get to see. Instead we get a thinly veiled Muslim morality play. Muslims good; Westerners Evil.

Saddly, not only was there a great potential for this film, but it had some pretty good performances as well. Unfortunately, in true Dickensian fashion, regardless of the individual actors' portrayals of their roles, their dialog and overall script made them come off as sappy and melodramatic.

No thank you.

10sacyayarea

Great Movie

I absolutely loved that movie. I understand that it was a make of Oliver Twist (which I have never seen) Although when I watch movies I don't compare, why sit there and say it's nothing like Oliver Twist, It's not supposed to be. It's a different movie, well produced, and very moving. As soon as I turned on the movie I was hooked didn't get up once. I love the fact that they show people how it is for children, I mean that is real, Africa is no joke. Tons of Children either die by the age of five or are orphans by the age of 5. So sad but so true. Jarrid did a beautiful job and he is the cutest little boy ever! GOOD JOB EVERYONE THE MOVIE WAS A HIT

3FiendishDramaturgy

Okay, I Have But One Question: WTF Was THAT?

Pardon me, but I'm still in a mild state of shock. Based on Dickens' work this...film details a young homeless South African in his search for a family. Okay, I get it.

This is quite odd in its execution, but as a modernized remake, it's not all that bad, but it certainly is not the art-house film it was intended to be. Some of the performances are quite good, while others leave a bad taste in your mouth.

This is entertaining, though a muddled mess of an adaptation. The elements here are both English and South African, but there seems to be some other subtexts hidden within. It would intrigue me if it were better done than it is, but as it is, I will not waste the time.

It rates a 2.8/10 from...

the Fiend :.

10serenawardlaw

A truly excellent film

This movie is being played here in the United States in heavy rotation. I thought that Jarrid Geduld really made the movie what it was. I don't think I would have paid much attention to it had he not been in the title role. I would like to commend the other actors for displaying a more realistic portrayal of life in South Africa. I would like to also say that Jarrid will someday become a very major star in showbiz. I truly hope to see him in more movies being played in the US. Although this movie was done in 2004 it should be released again to a much broader audience. I am sure that it will reach a lot more people and make more of an impact for those of us who do not know what life is like in Capetown.

8stevehadd

An engaging look at another side of life in Cape Town

Being a Capetonian (resident of Cape Town, South Africa), this movie was particularly interesting. One knows about hoe bipolar the city can be (squatters a few blocks from million dollar mansions), but this really shows just how close to the surface the poverty really is (and makes me feel a little less safe!). So many street children are really faced with such an existence. What is good about the movie is that despite the poverty and bleakness, there is sense of hope. One gets the sense that one day, something might go right for them and they might be rescued from the plight.It's not difficult to make a dreary depressing film, but an achievement to infuse it with a sense of hope and possibility.