Customer Reviews

Before The Rains [DVD] [2008]

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

A wonderful reflection of the 2 very different cultures, beautifully portrayed. It was sensitively performed with the richness of the Indian landscape.

When I saw this title, though I hadnt heard of it before, I thought this could be a good love story, no it isnt, not really, the potential it could have had!!!! , would have made a fantastic story, but it was so lacking. It could have shown alot more about the culture but only hits on it a little bit. There could be so much more to this story, it is even lacking in the passion as well. The acting was fairly good, but for me it was a little disappointing just an ok film. Fortunaltly it was a cheap copy and so not lost out too much.

Maybe I had high expectations given how many people rate "Before the Rains" highly. Unfortunately, having watched it, I (and my wife) found it really disappointing.

Nandita Das as Sanjani did a pretty good job, Jennifer Ehle was passable, but otherwise the acting was really wooden. I suspect it wasn't the actors' fault. I suspect it was the direction they were given and the script they had to work with that were really the issues. The story itself was completely predictable, the script banal, there was no atmosphere (terrible job by the lighting director), and the ending was, well, a non-ending. The director didn't even take advantage of the scenery - far too many shots looked like they could have been on a film set rather than showing off the scenery to its fullest.

So, although many people seem to really like this film, we were really disappointed. Although the story is really simple, the production could have been so much better.

This film is set in Colonial India where a Englishman falls in love with his housemaid who is beautiful yet unattainable. Theirs is a forbidden love as she is married and if the villagers find out she will be ousted from the village never able to return. It's about a plot all gone wrong, because the Englishman doesn't really love her, and she commits suicide, but he has to hide the body, so he asks his manservant to help him. The plot thickens and becomes more complicated...eventually the villagers take revenge on him....
I thought this was going to be a real good drama, but I found it a bit lacking in depth...it was a good sunday afternoon watch but I won't be watching it again for a while...

This is an amazingly beautiful film- breathtaking cinematography and a soundtrack that will linger in your mind as long as you can remember!

A great film from start to finish. Terrific scenery and a spell binding storyline. All about colonial life it is an excellent period drama.If you want to put your feet up and have a good cry then this is the film for you have the popcorn at the ready Oh and your hankechief as well!

Only choose this DVD because Linus Roach was in it.
I found it really boring .... one for the charity shop I think.

very good film , very beautiful scenery , well worth the money i spent , very good story line , would watch it again . the story is set in colonial india when an english man fall in love with an local woman , great on screen chemistry , just a great film.

At first I was going to give it four stars but my wife liked it less than me and I think she's right when she says it leaves too much to question at the end. Still, I am glad I bought it and the story line is thought provoking - good scenery of southern India.

The views are splendid. The story line is easy to follow. There is romance, adultery, revolt etc. I give it 4/5.