3 Days to Go review – An enjoyable romp

The film 3 Days to Go is a sweetly sentimental South African production with a strong emotional thread which will appeal to a wide cross-section of cinemagoers.

Though its structure borrows from Hollywood-type sitcoms, its heart is very much South African, especially the Indian community, and building an empathy with the various characters is easy.

It is set in Durban. A wealthy Indian family comes together to grieve the passing of a beloved father and grandfather. We are in introduced to a colourful collection of husbands, wives, children and grandchildren.

The family assembles in a luxury, upmarket mansion for three days before spreading the late patriarch’s ashes and departing. They have to contend with rivalries and jealousies, hidden secrets and self-examination.

First-time movie director and writer Bianca Isaac has done a sterling job in marrying the elements, using split-screen techniques and Hollywood gloss to convey her multi-layered story.

The siblings are forced to re-examine their shared history and tattered relationships, as well as look at how they have to take responsibility for their decisions.

Bollywood actress, Lillete Dubey, who featured in The Best Marigold Hotel and its sequel, is cast as matriarch Lakshmi Isaac, whose husband dies unexpectedly after 45 years of marriage.

SA TV and film actress Leeanda Reddy gives an emotive performance as second-born Janet. She is faced with a number of issues.

Jailoshini Naidoo plays Melissa, the oldest sibling, trying to survive an abusive marriage, and Kajal Bagwandeen is Amy, the baby on the brink of divorce. There is an errant son, too – Riki, played by Rahul Brijnath, who gives his character a loathsome veneer.

3 Days to Go is an enjoyable romp and funny to boot.

Info

Rating: ★★★☆☆
Cast: Leeanda Reddy, Lillette Dubey, Jailoshini Naidoo, Kajal Bagwandeen; Zakeeya Patel.
Director: Bianca Isaac.
Classification: 13 DLV.

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