The Smell of Apples Review: Apartheid-Era Privilege and Denial

The film 'The Smell of Apples' meticulously recreates the period details of its setting, immersing viewers in the atmosphere of a bygone era. Every surface and detail is rendered with an eerie accuracy, from the awkwardly short seasonal school uniforms to the distinctly patterned kitchen tiles. The production design extends to recognizable elements like garden chairs resembling steel satellite dishes and the ubiquitous orange-and-brown daisy print, a pattern familiar to many from towels, mattresses, and beach umbrellas of the time. This commitment to verisimilitude establishes a palpable sense of place and time, drawing the audience into the world the film depicts.

Set against this richly detailed backdrop, the narrative explores themes of privilege and denial through the innocent yet perceptive eyes of a child. The film captures a sun-drenched aesthetic, which contrasts sharply with the underlying chilling realities of the Apartheid era. This juxtaposition highlights the insulated existence of those who benefited from the system, often shielded from its harsher consequences by a veil of willful ignorance or inherited privilege. The child's perspective, unburdened by adult complexities yet keenly observant, serves as a powerful lens through which the audience can examine the societal norms and unspoken truths of the period.

'The Smell of Apples' delves into the psychological landscape of denial, suggesting that the comfort and security enjoyed by some were predicated on a collective turning away from the injustices prevalent in Apartheid South Africa. The film's sun-soaked visuals, while aesthetically pleasing, can be interpreted as a metaphor for this deliberate blindness, a bright surface masking darker undercurrents. The child's journey of understanding, or perhaps misunderstanding, the world around them becomes a central arc, reflecting how societal structures can shape perception and perpetuate inequality.

The review emphasizes the film's success in using its detailed production design and a child's point of view to create a compelling, albeit unsettling, portrait of a specific historical moment. The chilling aspect arises not from overt depictions of violence or oppression, but from the subtle ways in which privilege insulates individuals and families from confronting uncomfortable truths. The film's ability to evoke both a sense of nostalgia through its accurate period details and a profound sense of unease through its thematic exploration makes it a noteworthy cinematic achievement in its examination of Apartheid-era South Africa.