Chaleur et Poussière

Based on Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's Booker Prize winning novel of the same name, this film is not so much as being about India but rather using the country as an effective setting to tell a story spanning approximately 3 generations. Two story lines - one set in the past and one in the present - are juxtaposed and connected by the narrative of a young British woman who seeks to uncover the truth about an ancestor who once caused quite a scandal by having an affair with a local Nawab. The story lines examine the impact of Western and Indian cultures as lifestyles, social mores, and centuries of history clash and collide. A tapestry of India is woven, as seen through the eyes of the narrator, a foreigner, who sincerely attempts to grasp and interpret her observations. The story and the screenplay for this movie speak volumes about Ms. Jhabvala's extraordinary literary and cinematic talents as a social and historical commentator, storyteller, and screenwriter.

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 not really too surprising that it was only Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's adaptation of her own novel that garnered any attention on the awards circuit from this film. Otherwise, it's a rather sterile story of mischief amongst the Raj that rather left me cold. The plot centres around the investigations of "Anne" (Julie Christie) into the goings-on in the 1920s that involved her lively great-aunt "Olive" (Greta Scacchi). Now this lady had only recently arrived to be with her new husband "Douglas" (Christopher Cazenove) and is swiftly immersed in the upper-class colonial lifestyle that sees her hobnobbing with the British establishment and with the local Nawab (Shashi Kapoor) who plays the game, subtly, for all it's worth. Meantime, we are aware of the precariousness of all of this as bandits maraud the countryside and anti-British sentiment is never far away. As "Anne" learns more about her relative, she begins to ask herself a few questions about her own life - and those imponderables lead her to begin to reevaluate who she is. It's a great looking film to watch, but somehow nobody ever manages to inject any passion or soul into their characters. Even the sex scenes come across strangely unemotional - in any sense. Christie worked far better for me in an earthier, more visceral, role and with the possible expception of Susan Fleetwood's "Mrs. Crawford", most of the cast were just too comfortable with there allocated persona. They came across as if they really could be the fatuous, entitled, cheating individuals - and I found that a little bit dull. There's plenty of dust, but heat? See what you think....

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.