About Susan Kandell
Location: Dallas
Occupation: filmmaker, film fest admin.
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Creator of the Oscar winning films Howards End and The Remains of the Day, Merchant Ivory, returns to the screen with the poignant and stirring film Before the Rains.
Merchant Ivory has always delivered to their fans films that possess great beauty and intelligence coupled with smart casting. Before the Rains is no exception with the addition of an exotic locale, southern India.
It opens in Kerala, India the year is 1937, amidst the rumblings of an advancing nationalistic movement. Henry Moores (Linus Roache of Law & Order fame) is intent on building a road in the hills above the local village in order to establish a spice plantation. On the surface it seems like a win-win situation. The road will provide jobs for local villagers, which will enable schools and hospitals to be built. But at what cost?
Although Henry Moores is the leading man, the film is less about his actions (which are cataclysmic) and more about the reactions of his dependable and trustworthy right-hand man, T.K. (the handsome Rahul Bose). The story focuses on the adulterous affair between Moore and his Indian housemaid Sajani (the lovely Nandita Bose) and the tragic consequences that befall them. T.K., who is an honorable young man, is torn between his ideals, loyalty to his employer and friends and love of the land. The film is rife with metaphors utilizing their adulterous affair as a stand in for British colonialism. Like the crooked road itself, although seemingly stable, steers us astray.
The film is based on an Israeli short entitled Red Roofs, which was part of the The Desert Trilogy: Asphalt Zahov (Yellow Asphalt) written by Dany Verete (Metallic Blues). In the Israeli version, the story is set among the Bedouin of Jahalin in the hills of the Judean desert. The story morphs seamlessly into the hills of rural India.
According to the press notes, the director was struck by the timelessness and universality of the story. Directed with great sensitivity, Before the Rains is the English language debut of director Santosh Sivan. He received worldwide accolades for his film The Terrorist which won numerous festival awards and is listed in Roger Ebert’s 100 Best Films (1999). He reset the story on Kerala (his birthplace), a setting that is rich with culture, history and awe-inspiring beauty.
Before the Rains premiered in Dallas as part of the AFI DALLAS Film Festival earlier this year. I was fortunate to have lunch with the films producer Doug Mankoff and his charming mother Joy where we discussed his growing up in Dallas, his strong commitment to his community and of course, his film. Doug has produced or executive produced over fifteen films, including Academy Award nominated Water and Academy Award winning Tsotsi. This year, he executive produced Away From Her which was nominated for two Academy Awards including Best Actress (Julie Christie).
He currently serves as president of Echo Lake Entertainment, a company he founded in 1997 in order to produce independent films. In 2002, he won a Peabody Award as producer of Things Behind the Sun. The list of his accomplishments goes on and on!
For those of you who like their history stirred with romance and stunning vistas, Before the Rains should be placed high on your go-to list. Besides, it’s a kick to see Linus Roache out of his stuffy Law & Order pinstripe suits (and accent) and into something much more comfortable.
