Toorbos (2019) User Reviews

'Avatar' love story of a forest girl in a real disappearing world.

[Starfilmsgold · 7/10 · 2 February 2021]

Amazing film that transports us to 1930's South Africa, a very different S. Africa from that shown in recent cinema. Not about angry apartheid, but about poor whites living in the forest with gentle blacks. Story plot is like 'Avatar,' about 'tree people', not aliens but inhabitants of the Krysna forest. They were being removed from the forest into council housing which to them, were like brick confinements. What would become of the forest girl Karoliena in the end? It was like reading a book that I could not put down. Breathlessly, I watched the last 20 mins ....

It is a well acted love story too. Karolina meets the well meaning Johannes who tries to reform her. In doing so, he finds his true self again. Finding peace with trees generations old. Sincere acting. Enjoyed it.

Great South African movie.

[spookmot · 8/10 · 26 November 2020]

Great movie. Sorry about some details that were changed or left out. Great soundtrack. Dalene Matthee would have loved this film.

Realistic love story of a forest girl in a disappearing world. (updated)

[Starfilmsgold · 7/10 · 2 February 2021]

Amazing film that transports us to 1930's South Africa, a very different S. Africa from that shown in recent cinema. Not about angry apartheid, but about poor whites living in the forest with gentle blacks. Story plot is like 'Avatar,' about 'tree people', not aliens but inhabitants of the Krysna forest. They were being removed from the forest into council housing which to them, were like brick confinements. What would become of the forest girl Karoliena in the end? It was like reading a book that I could not put down. Breathlessly, I watched the last 20 mins ....

It is a well acted love story too. Karolina meets the well meaning Johannes who tries to reform her. In doing so, he finds his true self again. Finding peace with trees generations old. Sincere acting. Karolina deserves a nod from the urban 'gods' for Best Actress.

Nature is soul restoring as it fills our senses with the very essence of living.

The Healing power of the forest.

[harkervilleknysna · 9/10 · 13 November 2020]

Toorbos was absolutely beautiful. It captured the true spirit of the Knysna forest and its people. The Knysna forest (any forest for that matter) is a place for healing and finding ourselves. Well done on this piece of art. Definitely one of the top South African movies I've seen.

Disappointment

[deonvdw · 3/10 · 4 December 2020]

After I watched the first Movie of "Fiela se Kind" also based on a book by Dalene Matthee, a few times to take in all its goodness, I was positively primed for Toorbos. However, I was sadly disappointed. I have not read the book and found the storyline 98% predictable and boring. Although I'm Afrikaans speaking I found the dialog difficult to follow. A few things also didn't make logical sense in society and I found Johannes' character inconsistent. I wouldn't know if that is consistent with the book.