Worth: $15.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Charles Mnene, Simona Brown, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Hlayani Junior Mabasa, Paballo Koza
Intro:
...a heart-warming story about embracing your identity.
Josh is a refugee from Zimbabwe, whose dream is to compete in a BMX Tournament. One night, Josh receives a letter congratulating him on being accepted into the tournament. Exhilarated after being knocked back previously, Josh rides through the streets exclaiming his excitement. He is so consumed by this big news that he is blind to what happens next.
An accident leaves Josh with an injury so severe, it results in him being told that he will never ride again. A professor named Mambo (played by the charismatic Hakeem Kae-Kazim) is at the scene and ends up taking the boy in.
Josh’s bike is more than just an object to him. It is as valuable as a memory. The bicycle is also a symbol of comfort and our protagonist’s main mode of transport. You can imagine how heartbroken he is when it is nowhere to be seen and he needs to rely on crutches to get around.
Mambo acts as a father figure to young boys. He teaches, feeds and provides them with a home. Olivia, a dancer who Josh continues to see at a park, assists him with properly stretching his legs and eventually gets more involved in his recovery. As athletes, the two share a love of moving their bodies but beyond this we see a romance beginning to brew. However, the story takes a darker, unexpected twist around the character of Mambo.
Riding With Sugar is a heart-warming story about embracing your identity. Simona Brown as Olivia and Charles Mnene as Josh share a credible chemistry. The film is aesthetically attractive, with captivating shots of Josh riding through Cape Town in the night. Throughout, we see flashes of his old life in a war-torn country compared with shades of his new one. The editing here, is sure to leave an impact. The soundtrack is also captivating.
