The Bengali Night (1988)
"La nuit Bengali" (original title)

Director:

Nicolas Klotz

Writers:

Jean-Claude Carrière, Mircea Eliade (novel),

Stars:

Hugh Grant, Shabana Azmi, Supriya Pathak

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Hugh Grant	...	Allan
Shabana Azmi	...	Indira Sen
Supriya Pathak	...	Gayatri
John Hurt	...	Lucien Metz
Soumitra Chatterjee	...	Narendra Sen
Anne Brochet	...	Guertie
Pierre-Loup Rajot	...	Harold
Elisabeth Perceval	...	Norinne
Anjan Dutt	...	Khokha
Poornima Pathwardhan	...	Lilou
Steve Potts	...	Steve
Utpal Dutt	...	The Priest
Srirupa Chatterjee	...	Supriya

Storyline

---

Plot Keywords:

foreign language adaptation | love triangle | based on novel

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

France Switzerland UK

Language:

French English

Release Date:

26 October 1988 (France)

Also Known As:

As Noites de Bengali

Filming Locations:

Indrapuri Studios, Calcutta, West Bengal, India

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films Plain Chant, Compagnie Française Cinématographique (CFC), Films A2

Technical Specs

Runtime:

153 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Baa! Baa! Black Sheep"

User Reviews

A beautiful and very powerful film.

"The Bengali Night" is a very subtle and beautiful film, where Indian culture has the leading role even if Hugh Grant and John Hurt are both excellent. As the film begins, we are introduced to the world of those expatriates living in India, although there are some, like Hugh Grant's character, Allan, who refuse to absorb this very strong and powerful culture. Allan is an engineer who builds bridges and paves roads with his young European mentality. Yet, there are others like Hurt's character, who instead, embrace the culture to the point that they fall into it; become obsessed by it. So, when Allan becomes ill and is invited to stay at the home of his employer, he dives head first, leaving behind his European past, including friends and a girlfriend. It's not too difficult for him to then fall in love with the boss' daughter, Gayatri, who is beautiful, charming, and the perfect "guide" for Allan. However, passion in India between a white man and an Indian woman is not something that is tolerated, and our two lovers are not prepared for the consequences. The film is held together by a wonderful cast, which includes the great Shabana Azmi, one of Indian cinema's greatest stars, along with other actors of Satyajit Ray's team. It was Hugh Grant's first starring role, and his youth and naivety makes his character ever more endearing. Based on a true story between the philosopher Mircea Eliade and Maytrei Davi, who became one of the most important poets of Bengal, the film wraps us up in the flavor and magic of India, and refuses to let go. A beautiful and very powerful film. Phil Ed.