La nuit Bengali (1988)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Nicolas Klotz

Writers:

Jean-Claude Carrière (writer)
Mircea Eliade (novel)

Release Date:

26 October 1988 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Foreign Language Adaptation | Love Triangle | Based On Novel

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

Also Known As:

The Bengali Night (International: English title)

Runtime:

153 min

Country:

France | Switzerland | UK

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Indrapuri Studios, Calcutta, West Bengal, India

Company:

Les Films Plain Chant

Soundtrack:

Clarinet Solo

Americans beware, much more of a European sensibility

The beautiful part is that it is based on a true story that shows both the light and shadow in the interplay of Western and non-Western cultures. The less than wonderful part for an American audience (my wife and myself) was the pacing, the cinematography, the rambling philosophical bon mots that didn't seem to go anywhere or have a perspective one could really get a hold of. Not at all a Hollywood product -- a European effort and perhaps better enjoyed by those who enjoy European directors. We didn't watch the whole thing -- too slow, too painful. We found that the DVD's special feature interview with the producer was the best part. It also is about a Westerner's encounters with the Indian culture, but is more accessible.