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Wah-Wah

  • 20052005
  • RR
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Gabriel Byrne, Miranda Richardson, Emily Watson, Nicholas Hoult, and Julie Walters in Wah-Wah (2005)
Theatrical Trailer from Samuel Goldwyn
Play trailer2:14
1 Video
29 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

Ralph witnesses the disintegration of his parents' marriage through adultery and alcohol during the last gasp of the British Empire in Swaziland in 1969. Ralph finds his new step-mother is t... Read allRalph witnesses the disintegration of his parents' marriage through adultery and alcohol during the last gasp of the British Empire in Swaziland in 1969. Ralph finds his new step-mother is the only one who understands his inner turmoil.Ralph witnesses the disintegration of his parents' marriage through adultery and alcohol during the last gasp of the British Empire in Swaziland in 1969. Ralph finds his new step-mother is the only one who understands his inner turmoil.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Richard E. Grant
  • Writer
    • Richard E. Grant
  • Stars
    • Nicholas Hoult
    • Miranda Richardson
    • Emily Watson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Richard E. Grant
  • Writer
    • Richard E. Grant
  • Stars
    • Nicholas Hoult
    • Miranda Richardson
    • Emily Watson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 54User reviews
    • 36Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Wah-Wah
    Trailer 2:14
    Wah-Wah

    Photos29

    Miranda Richardson in Wah-Wah (2005)
    Gabriel Byrne in Wah-Wah (2005)
    Gabriel Byrne and Emily Watson in Wah-Wah (2005)
    Nicholas Hoult in Wah-Wah (2005)
    Gabriel Byrne and Nicholas Hoult in Wah-Wah (2005)
    Emily Watson and Nicholas Hoult in Wah-Wah (2005)
    Gabriel Byrne and Miranda Richardson in Wah-Wah (2005)
    Richard E. Grant in Wah-Wah (2005)
    Carl Spence at an event for Wah-Wah (2005)
    Dan Ireland at an event for Wah-Wah (2005)
    Michael Childers at an event for Wah-Wah (2005)
    Nicholas Hoult at an event for Wah-Wah (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nicholas Hoult
    Nicholas Hoult
    • Ralph Compton - 14 yearsas Ralph Compton - 14 years
    Miranda Richardson
    Miranda Richardson
    • Lauren Comptonas Lauren Compton
    Emily Watson
    Emily Watson
    • Ruby Comptonas Ruby Compton
    Gabriel Byrne
    Gabriel Byrne
    • Harry Comptonas Harry Compton
    Julie Walters
    Julie Walters
    • Gwen Traherneas Gwen Traherne
    Zac Fox
    Zac Fox
    • Ralph Compton - 11 years oldas Ralph Compton - 11 years old
    Celia Imrie
    Celia Imrie
    • Lady Riva Hardwickas Lady Riva Hardwick
    Julian Wadham
    Julian Wadham
    • Charles Binghamas Charles Bingham
    Fenella Woolgar
    Fenella Woolgar
    • June Broughtonas June Broughton
    John Matshikiza
    John Matshikiza
    • Dr. Zim Mzimbaas Dr. Zim Mzimba
    Sid Mitchell
    • Vernonas Vernon
    John Carlisle
    • Sir Gifford Hardwickas Sir Gifford Hardwick
    Mathokoza Sibiya
    • Dozenas Dozen
    Sindisiswe Nxumalo
    • Reginaas Regina
    Michael Richard
    • Tobiasas Tobias
    Caroline Smart
    • Tajas Taj
    Ian Roberts
    • John Traherneas John Traherne
    Olivia Grant
    Olivia Grant
    • Monicaas Monica
    • Director
      • Richard E. Grant
    • Writer
      • Richard E. Grant
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Set at the end of the 1960s, as Swaziland is about to receive independence from Great Britain, this movie follows the young Ralph Compton (Zac Fox), at eleven, through his parents' traumatic separation, till he's fourteen (played by Nicholas Hoult). It was written and directed by Richard E. Grant, and based on true events from Grant's childhood.
    • swaziland
    • stepmother
    • alcoholic father
    • child's point of view
    • divorced parents
    • 27 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Every family has its own language.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for some language and brief sexuality
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was the first movie to be shot in Swaziland.
    • Goofs
      When Ralph comforts Ruby at the hospital, her dress starts slipping from her right shoulder. When the camera takes a close shot, the dress is up to her neck.
    • Quotes

      Lauren Compton: How dare you contradict me in front of a servant?

      Harry Compton: The Sphinx has spoken.

    • Connections
      Featured in Wah Wah in Swaziland (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Goodnight Sweetheart
      Written by Ray Noble, Jimmy Campbell & Reginald Connelly

      Performed by Ray Noble and his Orchestra

      Vocalist: Al Bowlly

    User reviews54

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    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!
    helpful•57
    8
    • wangop
    • Aug 18, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 2, 2006 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • South Africa
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Wah Wah
    • Filming locations
      • Swaziland
    • Production companies
      • Scion Films
      • Loma Nasha
      • Reeleyes Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $234,750
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $55,304
      • May 14, 2006
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,846,148
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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    Gabriel Byrne, Miranda Richardson, Emily Watson, Nicholas Hoult, and Julie Walters in Wah-Wah (2005)
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