Reviewed by Neil Davey
Stars Linus Roache, Rahul Bose, Nandita Das, Jennifer Ehle,
John Standing, Leopold Bendict, Inrajith Sukumaran,
Lal Paul, Lakshmi Krishnamoorthy
Written by Cathy Rabin, based on the film Red Roofs
Certification UK 12A | US PG-13
Runtime 98 minutes
Directed by Santosh Sivan
An Indian setting, a forbidden affair, repressed emotions, a shift in the cultural climate... Why, it's Merchant Ivory all over again. Only it isn't. Happily. Yes, Merchant Ivory had their moments but latterly became the cinematic equivalent of coffee table books: nice to look at but serving little other purpose. In contrast, Santosh Sivan (best known for the excellent The Terrorist) has taken the sort of elements that would normally have me reaching for a double espresso and a syringe and fashioned something utterly spellbinding that will, I'm confident, feature in my Top Ten for 2008.
The film focuses on doomed relationships. At its heart is the illicit, deeply taboo affair between Henry Moores (Roache), a spice "baron" and his married housemaid Sajani (Das). Knowledge of this affair puts Moores' relationship with his right hand man T.K. (Bose) under pressure while around them, the relationship between the Indian population and the British colonialists is also shifting. Such obvious symbolism could be heavy-handed but Sivan draws his parallels with the lightest of touches, exploring each relationship thoroughly, testing each bond, while simultaneously hinting at a sense of impending tragedy. When this tragedy happens, it's shocking but also deeply ironic, and also provides more fuel for Sivan's analysis of the wider social implications. And as well as being a fascinating history lesson, Before Rains is also a heart-breaking love story. In short, it's a remarkable achievement.
Roache is excellent, but is more than matched by Bose, while Jennifer Ehle (as Moores' long-suffering wife) and Das work wonders with their relatively thankless roles, avoiding all the cliches thanks to their talents and Rabin's excellent screenplay. Nigh faultless and endlessly fascinating, this is a film that will stay with you for days after. Exceptional.