Die weisse Massai (2005)

A girl, Carola, whose vacation in Kenya takes an interesting turn when she becomes infatuated with a Masai. Carola decides to leave her boyfriend to stay with her lover. There, she has to ... See full summary »

Director:

Hermine Huntgeburth

Writers:

Corinne Hofmann (novel), Johannes W. Betz (screenplay),

Stars:

Nina Hoss, Jacky Ido, Katja Flint

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nina Hoss	...	Carola Mamutelil geb. Lehmann
Jacky Ido	...	Lemalian Mamutelil
Katja Flint	...	Elisabeth
Antonio Prester	...	Pater Bernardo (as Nino Prester)
Janek Rieke	...	Stefan
Helen Namaso Lenamarken	...	Lemalians Mama
Nicolas Sironka	...	Mini-Chief
Damaris Itenyo Agweyu	...	Asma (as Damaris Agweyu)
Barbara M. Ahren	...	Carolas Mutter (as Barbara Magdalena Ahren)
Robert Dölle	...	Frank
Barbara Herschbach	...	Jenny
Morgan Lematampash	...	Tom
Kiriniyaga Lenamatiyo	...	John
Christine Namkuny	...	Saguna
John Erick	...	Mike

Storyline

A girl, Carola, whose vacation in Kenya takes an interesting turn when she becomes infatuated with a Masai. Carola decides to leave her boyfriend to stay with her lover. There, she has to adapt to the Masai's way of life and get used to their food which includes milk mixed with blood. She also has to face her husband's attitude towards women and what he expects from a wife. Nonetheless, Carola is welcomed warmly into the tribe she has chosen to join.

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Plot Keywords:

kenya | vacation | shop | fetus | birth | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Constantin Film [de]

Country:

Germany

Language:

German Swahili English

Release Date:

15 September 2005 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Den vita massajen

Filming Locations:

Kenya

Box Office

Budget:

€7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$123,896 (Austria) (23 September 2005)

Gross:

$6,680,352 (Germany) (7 October 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bayerischer Banken-Fonds, Constantin Film Produktion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min 131 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The cast and crew lived in tents among the Samburu during the entire shoot. They also studied their language and customs.

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Connections

Featured in Smagsdommerne: Episode #3.14 (2006)

User Reviews

More than she bargained for

The White Masai is a very handsome production that showcases excellent cinematography by Martin Langer and some fine performances by Nina Hoss and Katja Flint as two European women trying to cope with life in Kenya. Carola knows fairly early on that she has gotten into a situation that will call on all her emotional resources if she is to survive. Nina Hoss conveys her sudden attraction to Lemalian, followed by bruising experiences with female circumcision, a woman called bewitched who gives birth at the side of the road, a crooked "mini-chief" who craftily skims money off the receipts at her store, and other trials. She seeks help from Pater Bernardo the missionary, very skillfully played by Antonio Prester.

The story is engrossing but it is true, as another commenter noted, that you're never in doubt about the next plot turn. This film should be seen by all those who enjoyed The African Queen and Out of Africa; it has the same romantic appeal as those classics.