|
|
|
|
The Mystic Masseur
"ENCHANTING" "THE MYSTIC MASSEUR WARMED THE SOULS OF ITS AUDIENCES AND SENT THEM BLINKING AND SMILING BACK INTO THE MOUNTAIN SUNSHINE." ROGER EBERT - CHICAGO SUN-TIMES - AT THE TELLURIDE FILM FESTIVAL The Mystic Masseur, a joyful drama of optimism, self-belief and wondrous imagination, that, together with the grace of God, can indeed work miracles... In the earthly paradise of tropical Trinidad a failed primary school teacher and struggling masseur discovers he has a "hand" for writing - soon he is massaging people's souls and minds and leading a whole community towards self-discovery. A
comic tour de force from Aasif Mandvi as "The Mystic Masseur',
Om Puri as the wily father-in law, and Sanjeev Bhaskar ("Goodness
Gracious Me") as the loyal side-kick. Ayesha Dharker ("The
Terrorist") is the long-suffering wife, Jimi Mistry ("East
Is East") is Ganesh's protége and publicist, with stellar
performances from James Fox and Zohra Segal. "ISMAIL
MERCHANT MANAGES TO IMBUE THE UNMISTAKABLY, FINE-TUNED SET PIECES
AND PERIOD PERFECTION THAT THE MERCHANT IVORY LABEL IS FAMOUS FOR,
WITH THE LUSH, TROPICAL ACCENTS OF THE WEST INDIES. THE MYSTIC MASSEUR
PROVIDES A RARE AND WELCOME PEEK INTO THIS HARDLY-SEEN CORNER OF
THE WORLD, THE INDIAN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY OF TRINIDAD WHICH V.S.
NAIPAL FIRST CHRONICLED. WITH GREAT CAST PERFORMANCES, BEAUTIFUL
CINEMATOGRAPHY, AND AN EXCELLENT MUSICAL SCORE, THE RICHLY LAYERED
MASSEUR IS AN ENCHANTING PIECE OF WORK." "I
DIDN'T WANT THIS FILM TO END" "THE MYSTIC MASSEUR HAS REAL
HUMOR WELLING UP FROM THE HEART AND FROM HUMAN NATURE, INSTEAD OF
THE CRUDE PHYSICAL COMEDY OF HOLLYWOOD'S SUMMER SPECIALS...IT IS
RARE TO SEE A RAGS-TO-RICHES STORY IN WHICH WE ARE SO INTIMATELY
INVOLVED WITH THE CHARACTERS, SO SYMPATHETIC TO THEM, AND LED SO
EASILY TO UNDERSTAND THAT RICHES MAY NOT ALWAYS BE A GOOD TRADE
FOR THE HAPPINESS OF YOUTHFUL AMBITION."
|
