Heat and Dust

As per usual, James Ivory captures a good feel for the period and setting, helped by, as usual, a fitting Richard Robbins score. As a cultural study, it has some things to say, with an insight into the culture of the indigenous Indian population, but it conveys little in the way of messages, as the screenplay is awfully convoluted, not helped by switching between different narrators and time periods. Some of the supporting characters are not defined well either, and there are a few lethargic gaps between events in the tale. The filming on-location is great, and generally it is all rather well made, but it pales against the work that Merchant-Ivory would produce later on, as this simply is not near a perfect film.

It's a story told in two different time periods of two different woman who are attached by decision taken by both of them in there lives. Both the era generated by director with there details are mesmerizing, but modern day India dulls against the British one as there are many clichés that are shown which exist till today among western countries about India. Period films are mastered by merchant ivory production and this one of the finest examples of it. We are captured by the brilliant photography and then by the characters etched by screenwriter and director. Greta schahi proves her mettle in her first major role and Julie Christie is just as natural as always. Casting of every little character is perfect. Best thing is the way story is told, how two era become one and how easily is one moving from one to other.modern day story dulls little bit against raj era one but it is saved by Julie Christie's beautiful presence. Certain question arise and they are answered beautifully. How we get in a relationship with someone who is so different from us culturally and in every way, is it just the avaibality or something more ? Human mind is such an intriguing place to understand. Why we take certain steps always remains a question. Just like the character of chid. Who is running away from world yet is attached to it.

I'm seeing this for the first time. Although I have enjoyed Merchant-Ivory films in the past (really want to see The Bostonians again, and A Room With a View), I can't say I was affected very much by this one. Shashi Kapoor gets off some funny lines, but is otherwise pretty bland. Nickolas Grace is the only memorable character--as he was in Brideshead Revisited. Passion just isn't present in this movie. Watch A Passage to India instead.

Made in 1982, it takes place in 1923 and 1982. Anna is researching her past. And may find more than she bargained for. Her aunt olivia had run off back in the 1920s, for unknown reasons. The british rule in india. Interaction between the upper crust brits and the local prince. Quite a bit of time is spent discussing the rule and history of amanullah khan, the modern nawab's ancestor. Be sure to check him out on wikipedia dot org. An interesting life lived, but clearly had a dark side. It's a good tale. A bit confusing at the start, with the flashbacks. As we continue, things are made more clear. Directed by james ivory. He won the oscar for call me by your name. Novel by ruth jhabvala. She has won two oscars and a bafta!

This, the the first internationally successful Merchant-Ivory production, continues to be a major achievement. Effortlessly passing from post-sixties soul-searching to twenties scandal, it uses the stylistic freedom of the filmmaker to make solid what can be only suggested in the novel.

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, long-time Merchant-Ivory scenarist, got most of the gongs - and rightly so - for her adaptation of her own novel is a copy-book to be studied by any aspiring scenarist. However, one should not overlook the unforced direction by James Ivory and Walter Lassally's truly wonderful cinematography.

One of the most endearing aspects of the film is that a great range of attitudes are expressed by the English characters towards India and the Indians. One suspects that less culturally confident filmmakers nowadays would feel obliged to be more black and white (no pun intended)about 'colonialism' and the like. Not so here. Anne (JC) exhibits a range of attitudes to modern India, as does her ancestral alter ego (GC). Such plurality make the film richer, more complex, less ideological and dogmatic and much, much less boring.

In a way, this is a twin film with Jefferson in Paris... see them both together and you will understand what I mean...

MO