Spud (2010)

It's South Africa 1990. Two major events are about to happen: The release of Nelson Mandela and, more importantly, it's Spud Milton's first year at an elite boys only private boarding school.

Director:

Donovan Marsh

Writers:

Donovan Marsh (screenplay), John Van De Ruit (novel)

Stars:

John Cleese, Troye Sivan, Jamie Royal

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Cleese	...	The Guv - Mr. Edly
Troye Sivan	...	John 'Spud' Milton
Jamie Royal	...	Henry 'Gecko' Barker
Sven Ruygrok	...	Rambo
Blessing Yaba	...	Fatty
Tom Burne	...	Vern 'Rain Main' Blackadder (as Thomas Burne)
Josh Goddard	...	Charlie 'Mad Dog' Hooper
Travis Hornsby	...	Boggo
Byron Langley	...	Simon Brown
Jason Cope	...	Sparerib - Mr. Wilson
Genna Blair	...	Mermaid - Debbie
Charlbi Dean Kriek	...	Amanda (as Charlbi Kriek)
Julie Summers	...	Mom
Aaron McIlroy	...	Dad
Tanit Phoenix	...	Eve - Mrs. Wilson

Storyline

It's South Africa 1990. Two major events are about to happen: The release of Nelson Mandela and, more importantly, it's Spud Milton's first year at an elite boys only private boarding school. John Milton is a boy from an ordinary background who wins a scholarship to a private school in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. Surrounded by boys with nicknames like Gecko, Rambo, Rain Man and Mad Dog, Spud has his hands full trying to adapt to his new home. Along the way Spud takes his first tentative steps along the path to manhood. (The path it seems could be a rather long road). Spud is an only child. He is cursed with parents from well beyond the lunatic fringe and a senile granny. His dad is a fervent anti-communist who is paranoid that the family domestic worker is running a shebeen from her room at the back of the family home. His mom is a free spirit and a teenager's worst nightmare, whether it's shopping for Spud's underwear in the local supermarket, or sneaking food into her handbag at ...

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Plot Keywords:

school | south africa | friendship | private school | school play | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

South Africa

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 December 2010 (South Africa)

Also Known As:

Spud Milton: Med ørerne i maskinen

Filming Locations:

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rogue Star Films, BLM Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (35 mm version)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jamie Royal (Gecko) contracted Measles during the filming of Spud. Luckily it was at the end of filming, when the night swimming scenes were shot and his measles are not visible to the viewer.

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Quotes

The Viking: I will be running a tight ship... in fact this ship will be run tighter than a nun's fanny.

User Reviews

More Drama than Comedy, not at all true to the book

When I first read Spud, it made a huge impact on me. I saw the book as near perfect. Of course, when I heard about the film, I was jumping up and down. Today I went to see it. What a disappointment. It has it's strong points: 1. John Cleese 2. Troy Sivan 3. John Cleese 4. John Cleese 5. Interesting cinematic interpretation of dairy-style book

Unfortunately I can't think of much more. Troy Sivan is the perfect cast, he sings amazingly, acts amazingly and looks the part. John Cleese, well, I don't really have to say anything.

The story is not at all true to the 'near-perfect' book. It lets out most of the high points of the book as well as all the subtleties that the fans of Spud were hoping to see in the movie. And where it does contain important points of the book, it is in some way changed. This was disappointing to say the least.

If you have read the book and have already developed a firm mental image of the characters, go see the film. If you haven't read the book, read it first and then go see it, or better yet, rent it on DVD. This is not a film that needs to be seen on the big screen.