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Promising new SA film torpedoed by cheesy dialogue

Film: Parable of a Railway Street
Directed by: Kamo B Kwele 
 
Kamo Kwele’s Parable of the Railway Street is a small slice-of life take on the dashed hopes of two friends who find their dreams of a better education and their aspiration of becoming successful businessmen unattainable.

Set in a train station, the film introduces Drama and Nqubeko, two friends who tamper with an electrical pole and tragedy ensues and with it a huge argument between them. Can these two disparate souls resolve their differences?

Clearly a very low budget film, technical glitches can be overlooked, but Parable of the Railway Street runs for 61 minutes and that is at least 20 minutes too long. The lengthy, cheesy dialogue and attempts at comedy that don’t connect stretch the movie to breaking point.

Nevertheless, Kwele, who dropped out of film school in second-year because of a lack of funds and a burning desire to make movies, pulled in a good cast and his assured directing and editing almost made the film enjoyable to watch – but was dragged down by the lengthy dialogue and over-stretched scenes.

* The film will be screened on July 24 at 6pm at Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre in KwaMashu
* Talents Press is a programme of Talents Durban at the Durban International Film Festival which sees 40  film makers from Africa and the diaspora gather for 5 days of workshops, seminars and masterclasses

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