Why is it that so many beautiful period films are also bloodless lumps of emotionless clay? Why is it that so many directors choose to rely on their impeccable and deservedly spectacular visuals but completely ignore the fact that without engaging characters we might as well be watching a National Geographic special? Before the Rains is an exquisitely beautiful film with a sturdy story and fine performances that sputters to a stop just before the finish line, the fuel tank of our interest and concern dry as a bone.
The year is 1937 and entrepreneur businessman Henry Moores (Linus Roache) has come to India to strike it rich exporting exotic spices to a ravenous Europe. But to do so, he will have to build a new road over the idyllic, fertile mountain passes capable of surviving the coming monsoon rains. And to do that, he will need all the manpower he can get his hands on. Henry enlists the aid of his trusted right-hand man T.K. (Rahul Bose), who warms the locals to the idea of the Englishman’s plans even while revolution permeates the air. Though T.K. finds the repressed cries of his own people hard to ignore, he has set his and his country’s future in the hands of his brother from a different world.
Just as Henry finds his professional needs realized in T.K., he finds the needs of his loins met in his beautiful housekeeper, Sajani (Nandita Das). But when the two lovers are caught frolicking in the forest, things take a decidedly dark turn. Sanjani’s husband wants blood and nothing, not even the power of the British crown can stand in his way. Ultimately guilty and innocent are caught up together with no means of escape. Even love has consequences.
The sumptuous, glowingly shot Before the Rains lingers on the sort of naturalism foreshadowing the reality show Survivor consistently employs. As tribal members spar with each other, the camera captures predatory animals and insects dining on less fortunate species. Here too, Indian director Santosh Sivan likes to give hints to his audience that the human kingdom is every bit as dangerous and cutthroat as the animal kingdom. He has made a film that shows how imperialism, even in its most benign, well intentioned form often leads to devastation.
Though Before the Rains is a joy to watch, it is almost incapable of touching your heart. Erotic sensuality gives way far too quickly to clinical dissection. The characters of Henry and Sanjani are not allowed to become human before they must become doomed lovers. We care so little about their love that we care next to nothing about their fall.
Where Before the Rains excels is in its painterly cinematography, its representations of two very different cultures set on a collision course, and the performance of the wonderful Jennifer Ehle, an actress woefully underutilized since her star turn in A&E’s Pride and Prejudice. As such, Before the Rains is not a total failure to be sure, but where it does collapse is so gapingly obvious as to overshadow all the rest.
By turns a period piece, erotic thriller, who-done-it, chase film and Shakespearian tragedy, Before the Rains looks every bit the part of a lush period drama. What it lacks is a soul.
© Copyright 2008 Brandon Fibbs. All rights reserved.