Wah-Wah (2005)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Richard E. Grant

Writer:

Richard E. Grant (writer)

Release Date:

2 June 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Every family has its own language.

Plot:

Set at the end of the '60s, as Swaziland is about to receive independence from Great Britain, the film follows the young Ralph Compton...

Plot Keywords:

Africa | Divorce | Alcoholism | Brain Tumor | Cuckold

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Gabriel Byrne	...	Harry Compton
Emily Watson	...	Ruby Compton
Julie Walters	...	Gwen Traherne
Nicholas Hoult	...	Ralph Compton - 14 years
Miranda Richardson	...	Lauren Compton
Zac Fox	...	Ralph Compton - 11 years old
Celia Imrie	...	Lady Riva Hardwick
Julian Wadham	...	Charles Bingham
Fenella Woolgar	...	June Broughton
John Matshikiza	...	Dr. Zim Mzimba
Sid Mitchell	...	Vernon
John Carlisle	...	Sir Gifford Hardwick
Mathokoza Sibiya	...	Dozen
Sindisiswe Nxumalo	...	Regina
Michael Richard	...	Tobias
Caroline Smart	...	Taj
Ian Roberts	...	John Traherne
Olivia Grant	...	Monica
Sibusiso Mamba	...	Father Ndlovu
Tony Hatton	...	Mr. Parker
Clare Marshall	...	Mrs. Malaga
Kim Borrell	...	Bunny
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Angus Imrie	...	Boy in Crowd (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard E. Grant

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Richard E. Grant		writer

Produced by
Jeff Abberley	....	producer
Julia Blackman	....	executive producer
Chris Curling	....	co-producer
Pierre Kubel	....	producer
Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar	....	producer
Jeremy Nathan	....	executive producer
Joel Phiri	....	executive producer
Pascal Ralite	....	line producer

Original Music by
Patrick Doyle

Cinematography by
Pierre Aïm		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Isabelle Dedieu

Casting by
Celestia Fox

Production Design by
Gary Williamson

Art Direction by
Ray Berman
Richard Field		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Ollie Novadnieks		(as Oli Novadieks)

Costume Design by
Sheena Napier

Makeup Department
Christina Baker	....	chief hair stylist
Christina Baker	....	makeup artist
Ashley Johnson	....	hair stylist
Ashley Johnson	....	makeup artist
Cheryl Mitchell	....	hair stylist
Cheryl Mitchell	....	makeup artist
Melissa Slabbert	....	hair stylist: extras
Melissa Slabbert	....	makeup artist: extras
Jade Snell	....	makeup artist: extras

Production Management
Nicole Carmen-Davis	....	production manager
Bruno Daniault	....	post-production manager
Martin Jaubert	....	production manager
Toni Marais	....	assistant unit manager: South Africa and Swazi
Lynne-Anne Visser	....	unit manager: South Africa and Swazi
Izy Wiget	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Andrew McEwan	....	second assistant director
Alex Oakley	....	second assistant director
Alan Raad	....	third assistant director
Charlie Watson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Anthony Dean Amey	....	art department coordinator (as Dean Amey)
Flo Ballack	....	set decorator: South Africa
Mark Elderkin	....	art department runner
Bongani Ledwaba	....	lead dressing propman
Sarah Pasquali	....	art department coordinator: UK
Eric Pateguana	....	carpenter: South Africa and Swaziland
Vicky Sawkins	....	assistant props (as Vicci Sawkins)
Solly Sithole	....	dressing propman
Ashleigh Tobias	....	production buyer
Mphumelelo Vilakazi	....	carpenter: South Africa and Swaziland
Graham Ward	....	property master

Sound Department
Thomas Bernard	....	sound recordist
Jean-Michel Chauvet	....	boom operator
Dean Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dean Humphreys	....	sound
Mark Lafbery	....	adr mixer
Dominique Levert	....	sound engineer
Dominique Levert	....	sound
Didier Lozahic	....	foley editor
Didier Lozahic	....	foley mixer
Dominique Mazière	....	foley artist assistant (as Dominique Maziere)
Pascal Mazière	....	foley artist (as Pascal Maziere)
Grahame Peters	....	dialogue editor
Samuel Potin	....	sound recordist
Fabrice Sauré	....	sound recordist (as Fabrice Saure)
Andy Walker	....	sound effects editor
Frédéric Warnotte	....	technical director: sound (as Frederic Warnotte)

Special Effects by
Arnaud Bisani	....	special effects supervisor
Christophe Ferrier	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Eric Vidal	....	computer graphic artist
Kevin Phelan	....	film recording supervisor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Gordon Adams	....	rigging grip: South Africa and Swazi
Stephen Daly	....	rigging gaffer: South Africa and Swazi
Delphine Desbruères	....	camera loader
Guy Ferrandis	....	still photographer
Justin Fouche	....	assistant camera operator
Denis Garnier	....	focus puller
Kevin Gibb	....	lighting best boy: South Africa and Swazi
Yves Kohen	....	gaffer
Xito Kuazangogo	....	video tape operator (as Xito Kuazangongo)
Théo Louis Jean	....	best boy grip (as Theophile Louis-Jean)
Themba Mahlaba	....	rigging spark: South Africa and Swazi
Owen Mitchell	....	junior spark: South Africa and Swazi
Albert Mohlaba	....	spark: South Africa and Swazi
Joe Rasta Ngceni	....	assistant grip: South Africa and Swazi
Richard Rolf	....	Steadicam operator
Etienne Saldés	....	key grip (as Etienne Saldes)
Mickael Seepe	....	rigging spark: South Africa and Swazi
Karl Waugh	....	assistant best boy: South Africa and Swazi
Jennifer Wheatley	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jennifer Sale	....	extras casting coordinator: South Africa and Swazi
Christa Shamberger	....	casting: South Africa and Swazi (as Christa Schamberger)
Alex Johnson	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Melanie Finch	....	stand-by wardrobe
Jo Katsaras	....	costume supplier
Melanie Lubbe	....	wardrobe assistant: extras
Dee Whayte	....	wardrobe assistant: extras
Tamar Zaig	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Liza Ignazi	....	assistant to editor
Guillaume Paqueville	....	assistant editor trainee
Kevin Phelan	....	film recording supervisor (uncredited)

Music Department
Matt Biffa	....	music clearance: UK
Abigail Doyle	....	assistant to composer: Patrick Doyle
Patrick Doyle	....	orchestrator
Vic Fraser	....	music copyist
Simon Greenaway	....	music editor
Jake Jackson	....	assistant music engineer
Valérie Lindon	....	music supervisor
Maggie Rodford	....	music producer
James Shearman	....	conductor
James Shearman	....	orchestrator
Nick Taylor	....	assistant music engineer
Nick Wollage	....	music engineer
Ian Wood	....	assistant music engineer
Lucy Evans	....	assistant music producer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Sean Berkhout	....	transportation captain: South Africa and Swazi
Dave Brackley	....	driver: tracking vehicle
Lucky Hlubi	....	driver: South Africa and Swazi
Coenie Le Roux	....	assistant car coordinator: South Africa and Swazi
Elias Makhanya	....	driver: South Africa and Swazi
Albert Maphosho	....	driver: South Africa and Swazi (as Albert Maphoso)
Osias Mindaweni	....	driver: South Africa and Swazi (as Osias Mndaweni)
Itumaleng Mokoena	....	driver: South Africa and Swazi (as Itumeleng Mokoena)
Kenny Moleme	....	driver: South Africa and Swazi
Alton Mthunzi	....	driver: South Africa and Swazi
Hodges Sibeko	....	driver: South Africa and Swazi
Hendrik H. Spangenberg	....	assistant transportation captain: South Africa and Swazi (as Hendrik Spangenberg)
Adrian J. Van Wyk	....	car coordinator: South Africa and Swazi

Other crew
Virginie Berrotte	....	production assistant
Claire Bibaud	....	production assistant
John Collett	....	production accountant
Tim Cook	....	unit accountant: South Africa and Swazi
Katia Djafri	....	production assistant
Sadek Djermoune	....	production accountant
Wilfred Durand	....	banker: OBC
Didier Duverger	....	banker: Coficine
Bob Fabre	....	paramedic: South Africa and Swazi
Anne Flamant	....	banker: Coficine
Laetitia Galitzine	....	production coordinator
Colette Gervais	....	banker: OBC
Andrew Giddey	....	runner: South Africa and Swazi
Laurence Guérault	....	unit location manager (as Laurence Guerault)
Hilary Heath	....	developer: Blackjack Productions Limited
Bjorn Hellqvist	....	stand-in: South Africa and Swazi
Karen Jones	....	script supervisor
Sara Jones	....	unit bookkeeper: South Africa and Swazi
Geoff Kemp	....	stand-in: South Africa and Swazi
Eve Kirchner	....	production assistant
Kronprinsesse Mary	....	stand-in: South Africa and Swazi (as Mary Donaldson)
Ishmael Maupe	....	location assistant: South Africa and Swazi (as Ishmael Maupa)
Alan McMenamin	....	tutor: South Africa and Swazi
Cedric Monnerie	....	legal and business affairs: Loma Nasha
Joe Mphola	....	location assistant: South Africa and Swazi (as Jode Mphela)
Djamel Ouahab	....	making-of
Phil Robertson	....	production executive
Teri-Lin Robertson	....	production services: Reeleyes Film
Aurelie Rouviere	....	production assistant
Hugo Rubini	....	insurance: Rubin and Associes
Corinne Saglio	....	production accountant
David Salbot	....	assistant accountant
Joanne Sennitt	....	production accountant
Lauren Tatton	....	production assistant
Ben Thomas	....	legal and business affairs: Scion Films
Frederic Tingaud	....	publicity and promotion: Fidelio
Christian Valsamidis	....	legal and business affairs: Loma Nasha
Adriaan van Zyl	....	production secretary: South Africa and Swazi
Jean-Roux Viljoen	....	location manager: South Africa and Swazi
Jean-Pierre Vincent	....	press agent
Joan Washington	....	dialect coach: Emily Watson and Nicholas Hoult
Taylor Wessing	....	legal and business affairs: Loma Nasha
Kevin Wiles	....	banker: Rand Merchant Bank
Janine Williams	....	production secretary: South Africa and Swazi
Lucy Evans	....	assistant music producer (uncredited )

Thanks
Ronnie Apteker	....	special thanks
Anne Flamant	....	special thanks
Hilary Heath	....	special thanks
Tendeka Matatu	....	special thanks
Kevin Wiles	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Scion Films
• Loma Nasha
• Reeleyes Film
• Wah Film Productions Ltd.

Distributors

• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Lionsgate (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• Roadside Attractions (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Works, The (2005) (UK) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Eclair (scan and shoot)
• Escape (digital special effects)
• Panache Productions (digital special effects) (as Panache)
• TEST (opticals)

Other Companies

• AFM Lighting  lighting equipment
• Air Lyndhurst Studios  music recorded and mixed at
• Air-Edel Recording Studios  music recorded and mixed at (as Air-Edel Studios)
• Barclays Bank  bank
• Bellwood Media  clearances
• Blackjack Productions  development
• CGM Insurance Brokers  insurance: South Africa (as CGM Brokers)
• Coficiné  bank (as Coficine)
• Crossfade  sound post-production
• D.C. Audiovisuel  sound transfer
• D.C.A.  sound equipment
• Dennis Davidson & Associates Public Releations (DDA)  UK publicity
• Digital Factory  foley and mix auditorium
• Eclair  laboratory and telecine
• Fidelio Production  publicity and promotion (as Fidelio)
• Freeway CAM B.V.  world revenues collected and distributed by
• Heath Lambert Group  insurance: United Kingdom
• Lip Sync Post  film recording
• Liquid Studios  VT equipment
• London Symphony Orchestra, The (LSO)  music performed by
• Lynne Matthysen Catering  catering: South Africa and Swazi
• Montage Négatif  negative cutting (as Montage Negatif)
• OBC  bank
• One8Six  film stock: camera and grip equipment (as One&Six)
• Rand Merchant Bank  bank
• Reeleyes Film  production services
• Rubini & Associés  film insurance (as Rubini and Associes)
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script
• Shenendo / Kiwi  travel agency
• Solimane C/O UMT Prestige  digitizing and editing
• Springbok Security  set security
• TEST  titles
• Tenon Media  auditor

Also Known As:

Wah Wah (International: English title) (informal alternative title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some language and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

USA:120 min | Canada:97 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Argentina:120 min

Country:

UK | France | South Africa

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Australia:M | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Swaziland

Company:

Scion Films

Trivia:

Rachel Weisz, Toni Collette, 'Meg Ryan' and Emmanuelle Béart all turned down roles.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Ralph meets his future step-mother, Ruby, for the first time, he introduces himself as "...and I'm Neil Armstrong", but Neil Armstrong only became a household name after shooting off to the moon on the Apollo 11 in July 1969.

Movie Connections:

References "Popeye the Sailor" (1960)

Soundtrack:

Camelot

Truly fantastic movie: brilliant pacing, excellent performances, quality cast.

Truly fantastic movie. I went to the world premiere last night at Edinburgh Film Festival and was blown away. As much as I like Richard E. Grant, I must confess that I was expecting a rather indulgent art-house auto-biopic. Instead, what we got was a brilliant, superbly paced, wonderfully entertaining feature film that held the audience to the last scene. The first 10 minutes are a little slow, but from then on Grant never puts a foot wrong.

"Wah-Wah" has the right blend of comic situations, gritty family conflict, stunning African scenery and caricatures of latter-day British imperial pretensions to entertain, engage and amaze.

Nicholas Hoult shows that the intensity and charisma evidenced in "About A Boy" were no childhood fluke, while Gabriel Byrne brings a perfect mix of menace and charm to encapsulate the contradictions of Grant's father figure. Special kudos goes to Emily Watson, whose on-screen presence is radiant and lively, rather akin to Rachel Griffiths in "Six Feet Under".

With an assured debut like this, Grant should soon be able to give up those wretched Argos ads for good!