Movie Review: Pretty How Town
One-liner: A funny, heartfelt and well-acted character-driven small town comedy drama with a timely message of acceptance.
Pretty How Town is a quirky, small-town comedy-drama centred on a mysterious woman whose arrival sparks immediate speculation and disrupts the local status quo. Small-town dramas are a distinct sub-genre in South African cinema, and Pretty How Town serves as an excellent addition to the canon – crafting a well-rounded ensemble piece where every character feels purposeful and lived-in. While the title may sound slightly clunky at first, it’s far more subtle than one might expect, drawing inspiration from an E.E. Cummings poem that sets the stage for this curious almost surreal tale.
It’s no surprise that the film was selected to showcase at the Pride Cape Town celebrations. Centred on Victoria, the story navigates contemporary identity politics through a protagonist whose transition stirs a variety of responses from friends, family and townsfolk. Many remain set in their ways, struggling to make sense of Victoria’s new life. The narrative follows Victoria’s attempts to mask her past identity to minimize friction. Having left under a “dark cloud” and abandoned an intricate network of relationships, her return inevitably triggers a series of misunderstandings and calamities. Yet, amidst the tension, estranged connections are re-established and new friendships begin to blossom.
The journey toward acceptance is as much for the town as it is for Victoria. Screenwriter Richard Starkey brings a personal touch to the script; much like the characters on screen, Starkey had to navigate his own journey of understanding when someone in his life transitioned. The dialogue nimbly balances the comedic and the dramatic, managing to deliver progressive messaging through a mature, quirky lens. The writing is crisp, successfully gathering a “circus of characters” under one cohesive tent.
While the premise could have easily leaned into soap opera territory, director Alan Shelley pulls the threads together to create a disarming and entertaining feature film. The cast is anchored by solid talent. Nevada Red deftly carries the role of Victoria with poise and purpose. She portrays Victoria’s guarded nature with nuance, gradually letting the audience into her world as her “undercover mission” to see her mother turns into a journey of enlightenment. Clayton Evertson plays a kind-hearted local doctor grappling with his own demons, providing a grounded foil to Victoria. Jennifer Steyn chimes in as Victoria’s crotchety mother. Steyn is masterful and finds the “tonal resonance” in her character’s affliction, injecting humour into the darkest of moments.
“I guess I have to call it home…”
Mila Guy and Danny Ross provide welcome comic relief as “Kirk” from Gilmore Girls types, expertly juggling their characters’ multiple professional “hats”. Brendan Sean Murray and Dean Goldblum offer great chemistry as sparring “rugger-buggers” on either end of their careers, adding texture and grit. Jo Galloway brings authority and tension as the cantankerous mayor with a secret, while Marcus Muller rounds out the cast as a devoted, modern father.
Shooting on location lends the film an authentic, “lived-in” village charm. The recurring theme of the “lonely robot” adds a layer of symbolic realism to the narrative. Pretty How Town is surprisingly funny, weaving a story of identity and mistaken identity with dexterity. There’s so much working for this quirky comedy drama that it does seem a bit ungrateful to even address some minor distractions. However, as well-written and well-acted as it is… there’s an aloof feel to the character of Victoria whose enigma remains. Then, as engaging as it is, Pretty How Town is a bit long and could have possibly been better explored or served as a comedy drama series.
The film boasts some beautiful shots but the emphasis remains on character and fluid storytelling. By prioritizing character depth and performance over pure aesthetics, Shelley delivers a deeply human story with genuine entertainment value. Ten years in the making, this is a noble, well-weighted effort. It’s a homegrown slice-of-life that is as funny as it is heartwarming – a relational misadventure that balances cheek and charm with effortless grace.
The bottom line: Disarming
