Final Movie-The World Unseen

A woman’s need to be freed from culture and tradition give us The World Unseen.  It’s a story of forbidden love set in South Africa when apartheid has just become the law of the land. Segregation is not only limited to blacks and whites, but also extends to coloured and Indians. The ultimate goal for women is to be provided a good match for a husband, have children, keep house, and cook well. A successful wife is a subservient one. This film provides commentary on everything from the oppression of marriage, rape, and sexism in Indian culture to racism in South African society.

The protagonist, Amina, wants a different life. She dresses in men clothes in which she feels the most comfortable. She owns a business with a coloured and she does not care what anyone thinks of her. It’s all about defiance

 Miriam is submissive to her controlling, chauvinistic, cheating husband, Omar and two children. When her husband allows her to travel to the café one day, Miriam meets Amina and because of Amina’s unusual decorum Miriam is intrigued by her resilience from first glance. (These are the same actresses from I can’t think straight, this was their first movie together; so the chemistry was intense)

Scene from the movie The World Unseen.

Miriam and her family were new to the country and Amina offers to build a garden in her yard and used the experience to get to know Miriam. They bonded over tea, while discussing her grandmother (a rape victim who was thrown out of the family) and the oppression of marriage and apartheid. When Amina hints at her sexuality, testing the waters, Miriam is caught off guard and conflicted.

Amina’s nonconformist attitude peak at a family dinner her traditional grandmother orchestrated to showcase Amina as a marriage prospect.  In the movie Amina is portrayed as a feminist heroine who defied the police, mix the white and Indians and socialized with her coloured workers she even protected Miriam’s visiting sister-in-law from arrest.

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Through Amina’s rebellions for law and rules Miriam’s defiance and strength began to surface when she tries to save an injured African man. However, her husband doesn’t share her progressive attitudes. He becomes paranoia and threatened her with violence. It’s funny how her husband’s infidelity is just shrugged off with a, “how could you?”

Amina offered Miriam a job as a cook at her café and her husband refused saying her place is home with him and the children and she doesn’t know how to drive; again Amina offered her service to the family. The sexual tension and chemistry heightened as long glances give way to lingering touches,  as an impromptu driving instructor, Amina stole kisses while Miriam fumbled for third gear. The husband becomes more furious that they were spending so much time together.

From this moment forward Amina’s boldness came across to strong for Miriam as it forced her to choose, love for her family and her place in the world as she knows it. Amina asked Miriam to run away with her and she will provide for her and children Miriam declined, stating she’s not gay. Amina is heartbroken. This movie does not flatters to the homosexual agenda, Miriam stayed where she belonged with her husband as tradition and custom has to be respected; however she defies her husband’s rules and accepts the job as a cook at Amina’s café. I was hoping she will leave her husband. Oh well.

Another key story line to follow is Amina’s business partner Jacob who is in love with the Post lady but because of the “white only” rules they can’t be together, it was against the law. The world unseen is a wonderful, meaningful and sometimes humorous movie that explores  relationships that were once taboo  and displays how Miriam’s relationship with Amina empowers her to make personal choices that changed her world, I think this is a great movie to do a critical analysis paper on there are so many aspects divulge.
For more review of The world unseen