Movie Review: Die dekonstruksie van Retta Blom
One-liner: A strong lead performance compels this bittersweet, entertaining and zesty love-in-later-life adventure romance drama.
Die dekonstruksie van Retta Blom is an adventurous romance drama that follows the rather spirited Retta as she navigates the choppy waters of reinvention. Dealing with a lacklustre marriage, triggered by a moment and guided by a free-spirited friend whispering sweet nothings of self-discovery into her ear, Retta embarks on a quest to kickstart her “lover-in-later-life” era. Based on the book of the same name by Zelda Bezuidenhout, this film is an entertaining jaunt, a bittersweet drama, and in many ways, a later-life “Bridget Jones” tale from director Pieter Grobbelaar.
The film perfectly captures a similar energy as Retta finds herself in a multitude of genuinely humorous situations. Moving from a somewhat conservative mindset to a wilder, more uninhibited side, the unpacking of this rediscovery adds significant levity to what is essentially a charming character portrait adaptation from Henrietta Gryffenberg. Die dekonstruksie van Retta Blom isn’t trying to be overly dramatic or plumb the depths of the soul. Instead, it offers a vicarious experience of simply cutting loose on the wild side.
While not overtly risqué, it’s certainly adventurous when it comes to matters of the heart and bedroom. The light-hearted comedy ensures things never become overly serious, keeping Retta’s escapades high-spirited with barely a dull moment. A solid ensemble cast does well to support Antoinette Louw, one of South Africa’s finest actors. Best known for her dramatic work, Louw is a versatile talent who operates effectively on both comedic and dramatic levels. Likeable and unassumingly charming, she wins audiences over with an honest, finely balanced performance.
“No… no spoonful of sugar, today.”
Serving as the story’s amiable guide, Die dekonstruksie van Retta Blom is a fun and disarming comedy-drama adventure with a few delightful twists and turns. Retta’s character arc keeps her in a constant state of evolution as she unlearns and reinvents, and it’s amusing to witness her shed her inhibitions and truly grab life by the scruff of the neck.
While Antoinette Louw is undeniably the magnetic force at the heart of Die dekonstruksie van Retta Blom, the film is significantly buoyed by its capable supporting ensemble. Particularly Hilda Cronje as Retta’s free-spirited friend, Leigh, whose spirited advice and contrasting personality provide a vital foil for Retta’s transformation, injecting much of the film’s effervescent charm and humour.
While sharing this journey of self-discovery with Retta is wonderful, a few subplots do occasionally pull focus from the main thread. One major plot point involving her husband Tobias, for instance, tends to muddy the waters, adding layers but also a slight distraction from the core narrative. A book-end concept, it adds nuance and some retrospective clarity in one sense but does ultimately come across like a spanner-in-the-works. Leaning into the Bridget Jones’s Diary element, it serves as a good litmus test – and while not quite as laugh-out-loud funny or star-studded, it certainly captures a fun mood with plenty of delightful comedic scenarios.
The bottom line: Spirited
