Amanda Lane directs this South African adaptation of the Brazilian film Ricos de Amor (Rich In Love). White lies, romance, and business dealings unfold against the backdrop of the vineyards of the Western Cape near Capetown—but should this rom-com be part of your weekend itinerary?
The Gist: Playboy and son of a billionaire with a heart of gold Ovee Sityebi (Ntobeko Sishi) is used to living a life of privilege, though he desperately seeks the approval of his stern father. When his driver and best friend Nathi (Thandolwethu Olly Zondi) challenges him to switch places so he can experience life as a real person, Ovee jumps at it and they both enroll in an internship at the wine company his family owns. Soon, Ovee meets a doctor Amahle (Masali Baduza) and wins her over while pretending to be a man of humble beginnings. But when she finds out the truth, it threatens to shatter the most genuine love connection he’s ever had.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of? There’s a rich history of films where wealthy people pretend to be poor in order to prove something to the world: Coming to America, Trading Places, or even Saltburn fit the bill.
Photo: Netflix
Performance Worth Watching: Thando Thabethe is clearly having a blast as Lena, the love interest of Nathi (who is pretending to be Ovee). She’s a bit over the top but engaging as an initially stern intern manager, trying and hilariously failing at setting boundaries with her student.
Sex And Skin: Love and Wine has a few sexual moments, but nothing NSFW.
Our Take: There’s nothing groundbreaking about the premise of Love and Wine, which means it has to be judged on the merits of its screenwriting, acting, and overall production. Luckily, this South African-set rom-com delivers on all of these fronts, making for a fresh and rewarding take on a classic trope.
While the entire cast shines in characters that feel lived-in and realistic, occasionally their characterizations leave no room for gray areas: Amahle’s boss who harbors affection for her is straight up villainous when she rejects him, while Ovee’s initial promiscuity is quickly forgotten to portray him as a rich boy with a heart of gold when he meets Amahle. But these types of black-and-white depictions can be both overlooked and forgiven in a light-hearted story like this.
Lane’s direction is quick and succinct, though occasionally the filmmaking falls back on romance genre stereotypes (like employing slow motion or color graphics as stand-ins for emotional sentiment). Still, the film delivers on its promise of a feel-good rom-com with lush and transportative scenery.
Our Call: STREAM IT. This South African rom-com is a fun take on a familiar trope, with great performances to anchor it in reality.
Radhika Menon (@menonrad) is a film and TV-obsessed writer based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared on Vulture, Teen Vogue, ELLE.com, and more. At any given moment, she can ruminate at length over Friday Night Lights, the University of Michigan, and the perfect slice of pizza. You may call her Rad.
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