When South Africa became independent in the early 1990s, it began to try out all sorts of things, its own films/television studios among them. SUBURBAN BLISS is one of the early sitcoms the nation produced, and is a hearty and enjoyable show about life in a newborn South Africa.
The story is simple, if rather relevant to its era: two families, one black and one white-Afrikaans, become neighbors and co-partners and try to stay together and endure each other despite their cultural differences causing comical conflict, a major issue at the time the show was broadcast.
Particular mention goes to the affectionate rivalry that exists between the elders of each family, the elderly Boer and the African matriarch. Not only does their arguing banter make great comedy, but it never gets too serious and the two frequently stand beside each other in tight situations. And in a nation that suffered horribly under apartheid this means a lot, that two people formed of that generation could still get along.
The show is fairly well-written and well-acted, with some good gags and strong performances. However, things got a little boring around the latter half of the show, when an unnecessary romantic drama was introduced between the youngest members of each family.
It is admittedly not as strong as the American or British comedies from the Northern hemisphere, but it is a national comedy that has its own flavor and humor and gives fairly solid laughs.
The story is simple, if rather relevant to its era: two families, one black and one white-Afrikaans, become neighbors and co-partners and try to stay together and endure each other despite their cultural differences causing comical conflict, a major issue at the time the show was broadcast.
Particular mention goes to the affectionate rivalry that exists between the elders of each family, the elderly Boer and the African matriarch. Not only does their arguing banter make great comedy, but it never gets too serious and the two frequently stand beside each other in tight situations. And in a nation that suffered horribly under apartheid this means a lot, that two people formed of that generation could still get along.
The show is fairly well-written and well-acted, with some good gags and strong performances. However, things got a little boring around the latter half of the show, when an unnecessary romantic drama was introduced between the youngest members of each family.
It is admittedly not as strong as the American or British comedies from the Northern hemisphere, but it is a national comedy that has its own flavor and humor and gives fairly solid laughs.
