BEFORE THE RAINS

Drama
In Malayalam and English with English subtitles.

BACKGROUND
Beginning in the 16th century several European countries started arriving as traders in India. By 1856 most of India was under the control of the British East India Company. A year later, a nation-wide insurrection of rebelling military units seriously challenged the British company’s control. As a consequence India came under the direct rule of the British Crown as a colony of the British Empire. During the first half of the 20th century the Indian National Congress and other political organisations launched a nation-wide struggle for independence. Starting in the 1920s a movement led by Mahatma Gandhi saw millions of protestors engaged in campaigns of civil disobedience. It was not until 1947 that India gained independence when it was partitioned into two dominions, India and Pakistan. Three years later Indian became a republic.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Linus Roache: British spice entrepreneur Henry Moores
Nandita Das: Sajani, the family’s housemaid
Rahul Bose: Henry’s right-hand man T.K. Neelan
Jennifer Ehle: Henry’s wife Laura

REVIEW
A beautifully photographed period piece set in India in 1937 with particular attention to the costumes. There’s nothing wrong with the pacing or the length of the movie. The acting is fine but the story is just a variation of one we’ve all seen before. Consequently not too many will put it on their “must-see” list.

CLASSIFICATION
for violent content and a scene of sexuality.

F.Y.I.
Malayalam is the language used predominantly in the Southern India state of Kerala. It is one of the 22 official languages of India and spoken by approximately 36 million people.