Opulent yet surprisingly casual, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala’s adaptation of her own India-set novel is manna from heaven for Merchant-Ivory, resulting in a patient and thoughtful film set as it is over two time periods.
Having inherited letters written by her great-aunt Olivia from 1920s India, historical researcher Anne (Julie Christie) decides to retrace her relative’s footsteps. A scandalous affair with an Indian prince (Shashi Kapoor) with links to local rebels disrupting British rule is mirrored as Anne, like Olivia (Greta Scacchi) is seduced by the beauty of India
Critical of the arrogance of British Raj administration and prevalent snobbery and racism, the more personal intercultural romances over the two time periods are heightened as they evolve in the face of convention and prejudice. As the oppressive heat and etiquette stifle Olivia, so decades later Anne finds empowerment through the personal determination of her distant relative.
Rating: 64%
Director: James Ivory (The Remains of the Day, A Room With a View)
Writer: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (The Remains of the Day, A Room With a View)
Main cast: Julie Christie (Darling, Doctor Zhivago), Greta Scacchi (Looking For Alibrandi, Brideshead Revisited), Shashi Kapoor (Swayamvar, Deewar)
An Opinion or Two 