The Secret Laughter of Women (1999)

For anyone who requires more than a soppy unrealistic love story to rate a film duly, this film is not for you. I watched simply as someone who likes to drool over Colin Firth but alas, this film just had me cringing. As has been pointed out by other reviewers, the whole premise is entirely unbelievable. Perhaps it would have benefited had the director placed more emphasis in the first place on the initial reasons why a white author for children's story books would have taken up residence as the only white tourist in a village populated by black Christians? Maybe I am just not well enough travelled, in any case, the viewer is left to accept that in the director's eyes, there is no colour and that is how Firth's character starts here. Which is a fine sentiment - but seeing as the whole film is about the prejudices between races and cultures this does not make sense. It's not the only thing that lacks credulity. Whilst the script, being fairly well-written and the essence of some of the issues the film portrays are both admiral qualities to find in a film, the plot meanders without conviction and the stand-offs between Nene and Mama Fola are thankful reliefs into what otherwise would be a tired and somewhat lifeless love-affair. For instance, it is only later that we understand that Matthew takes up with Nimi in the first instance due to he and his wife's 'arrangement' to add 'flavour' to their own seemingly sordid and loveless relationship by thrill-seeking outside their marriage. Even then, the point is made with such subtlety it would be easy to miss and a viewer may still find themselves asking why at the end of the film. However, Firth is believable as the cad without a cause and this slightly balances out the equality in his relationship with his god-awful English wife, Jenny Field, played by Caroline Goodall who does an excellent job of coming across as wholly unlikeable. Director Peter Schwabach clearly has a tendency to view wives and mothers from a slightly misogynistic, simplistic angle as these are the main stereotypes of the film. Perhaps in this case this is a good thing as without these, the plot would have lacked the drive it needed to kick it well up it's lumbering clumsy arse in order to drag us to the outcome and finally, ending.Nia Long's acting was terrible and seemed as though she could not bring herself to actually believe neither the film's script nor plot line either. I am still not sure what accent she was settling for. As for the little boy, it is true, he was annoying throughout most of the film, though his childish exuberance and enthusiasm did serve to lift the energy in this film. Firth's character did not come across as the 'eccentric Englishman/artist/author' - so why on earth he would be wearing that Saracen wristband presumably designed for children as merchandise to accompany his books, is beyond me. This was unnecessary detail. If any woman encountered a fully grown man sporting a toy around his wrist it would be a clear signal to give a nice wide berth and er, move on.However, she did do a good job of avoiding Mr Field for a good three-quarters of an hour, so when she finally does submit to his advances, which have for the main part been unrelenting - and rebuffed on numerous occasions, it can probably explain the almost immediate removal of her skirt/lower part of her wrap garment. Now girls, I don't know about you, but no matter how 'long it's been' I tend to keep my garments on for at least a few more dates - an even bigger surprise given the devout Christian upbringing Nimi has had... Having said that, it's not everyday a girl gets such an illicit encounter with the Firth, in which case, who can blame her? Foolish antelope!!All in all, I stayed with the film as it does keep one entertained, despite its flaws, if only for the curiosity to see if it will ever become believable. It doesn't. Finally, I find it hard to believe that both Nimi and Matthew managed to escape a beating or at best, social isolation for their conduct, given the disgrace brought upon the family ultimately both in her choice and the time at which it was executed. However, this would probably also have been an unlikely turn of events given the light-hearted nature of the film. One is left wondering why indeed, an actor like Colin Firth accepted the role, and possibly can be explained by the fact that The Secret Laughter of Women is an interesting insight into subject matter rarely, if ever, touched by Hollywood. Alas, it is the direction the film takes and possibly how it has been edited that lets it down, both in its overall conviction and in the depth of issues it is attempting to explore in the form of a light-hearted comedy/romance. It goes to show, sometimes, less is more.

I have mixed feelings about it, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. Something is not quite working, to start with, the whole thing is not very realistic which is not necessarily a problem, but when it tries to be serious it doesn't work. A lot of things seemed a bit forced. I also thought the characters were a bit shallow which prevented me to get attached to any of them. I found the kid not a very good actor and irritating at times. I did enjoy the 'sweet Colin moments' though, he looks fantastic in the film (fabulous hair!), and beautiful Nia makes a good partner.

This is a great movie. When two people from different backgrounds and social status think that they have nothing to offer each other and in the end they what each other needs it a testament to what the heart knows. Sometimes we wonder why one man is with a woman or vise versa and the outward appearances say one thing to our eye, but what they offer each other from within that we cannot see is amazing and unexplainable. When Nimi thought that Matthew had nothing to offer her and when Matthew was only looking for a fling (because he had an open marriage w/his wife Jenny), in the end they realized that they could not and did not want to exist without the other. It was worth it to them to resist what family and friends thought and what society said was right to be with each other. This movie kind of restores my faith in love.

I love Nia Long...and love Collin Firth. So I was very happy to see that they were in a movie together. Overall I thought the concept was good and the little boy very endearing.I thought the movie was choppy at times but I think that was primarily due to poor editing...but the acting was solid and believable. The chemistry between the two main characters was understated but passionate. I liked the differing cultures at work, the locale was so Belle and the colors were so vibrant from the Nigeran dress I only wished that this film was released here in the states...I had to get a poor copy from Ebay!