The Mystic Masseur
Ismail Merchant's "The Mystic Masseur" is from out of the past in more ways than one. It is, firstly, a tale about the Indian community in British Trinidad of the 1940s, an era when colonialism is being tested by a discontent and rambunctious native population. But the movie also harkens back to the kind of solid, humanistic storytelling that Hollywood has largely drifted away from in favor of effects gimmickry and nihilistic comedies and melodramas.
While American viewers might not catch all the nuances of Indian culture, Trinidad politics or even island accents, thanks to the vividness of the character portraits in this episodic tale, Merchant achieves a universality that transcends the cultural specifics. An adventurous distributor should be able to find an appreciative adult audience for this Merchant Ivory production, which opened the 24th Mill Valley Film Festival.
"Mystic Masseur" represents the first film to emerge from a novel by V.S. Naipaul. Francis Ford Coppola once optioned "Guerrillas" but never made the film.) The story is narrated by Partap (Jimi Mistry), a youthful admirer of the hero, Ganesh (Aasif Mandvi), whom he has known on and off most of his life.
As a young man, Ganesh is determined to embark on a literary career. But when he acquires a headstrong wife (Ayesha Dharker) and wily father-in-law (Om Puri), to make money he sets up shop as a masseur, a talent everyone assumes he has inherited from his late father.
He eventually becomes an expert in Hinduism and healings. Proclaimed "the mystic masseur," he finds that his new fame propels his book sales. But when he enters island politics, he eventually realizes British colonialists are using him for their own purposes.
This serio-comic tale, which stretches roughly from 1943-54, bites off almost too much for one movie. The story surveys the conflicts and social and political development within the Indian community in Trinidad during that period. The movie also witnesses the growth of its main characters from almost comic figures into people with dimension and accrued wisdom.
Merchant and writer Caryl Phillips let the film ramble now and then as they try to wrestle Naipaul's novel into cinematic form. Yet what makes the movie so compelling are the hilarious, savvy performances by a veteran cast. There's wise old Auntie (Zohra Segal), who lets nothing escape her notice; Ganesh's sidekick Beharry (Sanjeev Bhaskar), who always encourages the "genius" of his dear friend; and James Fox's crazed though prophetic Brit, who imagines himself to be a Hindu from Kashmir yet has never even visited India.
Merchant encourages all his actors to tread the line between the comic and melodramatic where characters are only dimly aware of their own foolishness.
Mandvi, a New York-based Indian actor, marvelously transforms himself into mystic masseur and pandit. His skill at mimicking the singsong island accent and creating striking behavioral tics is more than equaled by his ability to dig deep into his character's psyche to find the things that motivate that character and drive him through the entire movie.
Puri and the radiant Dharker shrewdly play members of Ganesh's acquired family, who come to realize that his ambitions often pull him away from his values.
Cinematographer Ernie Vincze captures this colorful period milieu with the sensual earth tones of aging postcards of exotic island settings. Longtime Merchant Ivory composer Richard Robbins is aided by world-renowned composer-musician Zakir Hussain in producing a soundtrack that splendidly evokes the excitement of a small community in turmoil.
THE MYSTIC MASSEUR
Merchant Ivory Prods. presents
in association with Pritish Nandy Communications
and Video Associated Ltd.
Producers: Nayeem Hafizka, Richard Hawley
Director: Ismail Merchant
Screenwriter: Caryl Phillips
Based on the novel by: V.S. Naipaul
Executive producers: Paul Bradley, Lawrence Duprey
Director of photography: Ernie Vincze
Production designer: Lucy Richardson
Music: Richard Robbins, Zakir Hussain
Costume designer: Michael O'Connor
Editor: Robert Silvi
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ganesh: Aasif Mandvi
Ramlogan: Om Puri
Auntie: Zohra Segal
Leela: Ayesha Dharker
Mr. Stewart: James Fox
Beharry: Sanjeev Bhaskar
Partap: Jimi Mistry
Suruj Mooma: Sakina Jaffrey
Running time -- 117 minutes
No MPAA rating...
While American viewers might not catch all the nuances of Indian culture, Trinidad politics or even island accents, thanks to the vividness of the character portraits in this episodic tale, Merchant achieves a universality that transcends the cultural specifics. An adventurous distributor should be able to find an appreciative adult audience for this Merchant Ivory production, which opened the 24th Mill Valley Film Festival.
"Mystic Masseur" represents the first film to emerge from a novel by V.S. Naipaul. Francis Ford Coppola once optioned "Guerrillas" but never made the film.) The story is narrated by Partap (Jimi Mistry), a youthful admirer of the hero, Ganesh (Aasif Mandvi), whom he has known on and off most of his life.
As a young man, Ganesh is determined to embark on a literary career. But when he acquires a headstrong wife (Ayesha Dharker) and wily father-in-law (Om Puri), to make money he sets up shop as a masseur, a talent everyone assumes he has inherited from his late father.
He eventually becomes an expert in Hinduism and healings. Proclaimed "the mystic masseur," he finds that his new fame propels his book sales. But when he enters island politics, he eventually realizes British colonialists are using him for their own purposes.
This serio-comic tale, which stretches roughly from 1943-54, bites off almost too much for one movie. The story surveys the conflicts and social and political development within the Indian community in Trinidad during that period. The movie also witnesses the growth of its main characters from almost comic figures into people with dimension and accrued wisdom.
Merchant and writer Caryl Phillips let the film ramble now and then as they try to wrestle Naipaul's novel into cinematic form. Yet what makes the movie so compelling are the hilarious, savvy performances by a veteran cast. There's wise old Auntie (Zohra Segal), who lets nothing escape her notice; Ganesh's sidekick Beharry (Sanjeev Bhaskar), who always encourages the "genius" of his dear friend; and James Fox's crazed though prophetic Brit, who imagines himself to be a Hindu from Kashmir yet has never even visited India.
Merchant encourages all his actors to tread the line between the comic and melodramatic where characters are only dimly aware of their own foolishness.
Mandvi, a New York-based Indian actor, marvelously transforms himself into mystic masseur and pandit. His skill at mimicking the singsong island accent and creating striking behavioral tics is more than equaled by his ability to dig deep into his character's psyche to find the things that motivate that character and drive him through the entire movie.
Puri and the radiant Dharker shrewdly play members of Ganesh's acquired family, who come to realize that his ambitions often pull him away from his values.
Cinematographer Ernie Vincze captures this colorful period milieu with the sensual earth tones of aging postcards of exotic island settings. Longtime Merchant Ivory composer Richard Robbins is aided by world-renowned composer-musician Zakir Hussain in producing a soundtrack that splendidly evokes the excitement of a small community in turmoil.
THE MYSTIC MASSEUR
Merchant Ivory Prods. presents
in association with Pritish Nandy Communications
and Video Associated Ltd.
Producers: Nayeem Hafizka, Richard Hawley
Director: Ismail Merchant
Screenwriter: Caryl Phillips
Based on the novel by: V.S. Naipaul
Executive producers: Paul Bradley, Lawrence Duprey
Director of photography: Ernie Vincze
Production designer: Lucy Richardson
Music: Richard Robbins, Zakir Hussain
Costume designer: Michael O'Connor
Editor: Robert Silvi
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ganesh: Aasif Mandvi
Ramlogan: Om Puri
Auntie: Zohra Segal
Leela: Ayesha Dharker
Mr. Stewart: James Fox
Beharry: Sanjeev Bhaskar
Partap: Jimi Mistry
Suruj Mooma: Sakina Jaffrey
Running time -- 117 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 10/8/2001
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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