When we meet the Redlich family, mother Jettel (Juliane K”hler) and her daughter Regina, played at first by Lea Kurka and later by Karoline Eckertz, are living an upper middle class life in Germany. But with the war imminent and with the persecution of the Jews escalating, they leave to join Walter (Merab Ninidze), the father of the family who is working in Kenya. Early on we learn how foolish Jettel is as she takes what little money they have left in order to buy a fancy evening gown before leaving Germany. In the African bush, there are few items of less value than a sequined dress. In addition to her foolishness, the mother is rather weak willed with wandering eyes for other men.

Walter is industrious and determined. He is as practical minded as Jettel is a dreamer. He realizes that the hardship they face on their small Kenyan farm is nothing compared to the concentration camps back home. When he tells Jettel how lucky they are to be alive, she is non-plussed. "We're alive, but what are we alive for?" she asks rhetorically.

The movie's scene stealer is the daughter. She is resourceful and wild, in the best possible sense of the word. Immediately blending in with her new environment, she learns the local language and culture and bonds quickly with all of the "Negroes." The movie is at its best in Regina's small scenes. One little jewel is a close-up of her just squishing her feet in the mud.

A film that turns out to be quickly forgettable, it does have a surprising event towards the end to capture the family and the audience's attention. And, it's one of those cinematic surprises that actually surprise both in the action and in its effect. There were many better foreign films last year, but NOWHERE IN AFRICA is a good one.

NOWHERE IN AFRICA runs too long at 2:21. The film is in German and Swahili with English subtitles. It is not rated but would be an R for brief nudity, sex and violence and would be acceptable for most teenagers.