Monday 6 March 2017

Film: 'Viceroy's House'

This was more 'okay' than I was expecting, it aspiring to be on an epic scale (which the subject justifies) but constrained by its time dimension of well under two hours, and the (to me) clumsy inclusion of a love story which jarred and put on the brakes for the more interesting bigger picture every time it turned up. Others may be more favourably disposed to this section than I was. But it was plainly obvious what director Gurinder Chadha was doing, depicting a small-scale personal relationship between two young people, one Hindu and one Muslim, as a metaphor for the huge subject of the partition of India in 1947 into Pakistan (East and West) and India itself based primarily on separating the, respectively, Muslim and Hindu majority religions of those areas.

Hugh Bonneville plays Lord Mountbatten, given the task by the recently elected Labour government in London to be India's last viceroy and to see through the partition. The splendid Gillian Anderson is his Lady wife, one of the film's delights every time she appears (which is regularly), each word of hers spoken like an elocution coach. I was also pleased to see Michael Gambon given a fairly substantial role when I'd feared he might have been in semi- or complete retirement by now. He appeared to be still spry enough to carry on for a while yet.
The cast also includes the final screen appearance of recently deceased, established actor Om Puri.

The developing political situation, fraught with tensions, is played out well, both between the British 'overlords' and their anticipated Indian/Pakistani successors, a potentially friction-packed subject reflected in the divided allegiances of the staff of the residence of the film's title.
I did feel now and again that the script spelt out in simplistic terms the issues involved, as though the film's audience weren't aware of them - which, for all I know, could well be true for a younger audience of today. 
Sensibly largely unobtrusive music score is by no less than the renowned A.R.Rahman.

Gurinder Chadha has made some quite pleasing films in her career ('Bhaji on the Beach', 'Bend it like Beckham', Bride and Prejudice' etc - all films on a small, localised scale). Maybe 'Viceroy's House' confirms that that is the milieu to which she is more suited and where she excels. 

This film isn't 'bad' at all. It has positive attributes, though that jarring unsatisfactory romantic subplot above all takes it down a couple of notches for me......................6.

8 comments:

  1. Anderson indeed is the best thing in this movie....i found the indian performances generally dire but i suspect that is the fault of the director.

    To me gambon just looks sick

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    1. Actually, J.G., I thought Gambon looked a lot better in this than I've seen him for some time, which had made me think he ought to have retired by now. But there's life in the old dog yet - and that pleases me a lot.
      Most of the Indian characters seemed very much a European's idea of how they'd conduct themselves, which is surprising considering who the director is.
      Overall, I seemed to have liked the film more than you did - or should that be DISliked it less?

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  2. I wanted to see this one, but my friends said they didnt fancy it. so we saw the animation Sing at the weekend. We giggled a lot through it. Its the dancing pigs, they slay me!

    I will be adding this to my list to watch on DVD. Its ever growing, but a trip to the cinema in these parts means a nigh on 50 min journey and then paying nearly £12 a ticket. As it was it took me 2 hours to get there due to traffic so it is better to watch them at home. Plus I can stop them and make a hot drink part the way through, old style with the ushers. Gosh I wish they still did that half the way through. Ice cream and a wooden spoon for the Mr and wine gums for me. lol I dont ever remember as a kid having popcorn at the cinema. Can you? 2 foxes mints and a handful of wine gums we had. No drink incase we spilt it.

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    1. 'Sing' isn't one of my must-sees, Sol.

      My viewing of 'Viceroy' was far more effort-free than yours - a mere 10 minute walk and just £3 on Mondays! So even if the film isn't much good it's no great loss.

      No, I actually don't remember having popcorn at the cinema because I've never bought cinema 'snacks' - no ices, nuts, drinks or anything else they offer. I just want to watch the film - without the 'frills'.

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  3. Oh, and the list grows. I still haven't seen the 2016 films!

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    1. I'm sure there are more 'essential' unseen films on your 2016 list than this one, Mitch.

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  4. My kind of movie Ray and I am a big Gillian Anderson fan. Thus one gets put in my Netflix queu.

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    1. Then yours is the one good reason to see this film, Ron. Without her I'd be suggesting you give it a miss.

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