Before the Rains, the first English language film by Indian director Santosh Sivan, is a surprisingly effective, accessible, and beautiful riff on familiar themes. Set in British-controlled 1930s India during a growing nationalist movement, the film is about love and self-destructive ambition in the face of a rapidly changing country.

Despite the two-cultural-groups-that-just-don't-understand-each-other formula, which you can find in the "Oscar-pandering" section of your local video store, I was surprised with how even-handedly the film was written. I've always been a bit bothered by the ease at which Hollywood films of this type may be distilled down to misunderstood-saints-clad-in-brilliant-sterling-silver versus the incorrigibly wrong/frustrating adjacent cultural group. Before the Rains, by contrast, does an exceptional job of humanizing both sides. Sivan certainly injects his own ideas, but leaves plenty of room for viewers to draw their own conclusions.

The success of the film is rooted in its simplicity. The photography, characters,and events fit perfectly into a concrete theme that is repeated throughout. Clocking in at 98 minutes, it feels streamlined and well edited, sustaining a well constructed level of tension until its satisfying conclusion.

A cinematographer-turned-director, Sivan paints a pretty picture. HIs mastery of photography is dramatically apparent from the first image of sweeping countryside. It is one of the most visually masterful films I've seen since the tragically mediocre Assassination of Jesse James.

While it remains to be seen how well Before the Rains will perform in the box office, it undoubtedly represents the first trickle of a greater overlap between Indian and American cinema. Baliwood produces far more studio releases than Hollywood does, and they are increasingly being targeted at international markets, particularly the English speaking world. Before the Rains isn't flawless, but if it's an indication of what's to come, I think we're in for a real treat.


Before the Rains opens on Friday, May 16th at Landmark’s Edina Cinema.

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