Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 135

'Masala' takes a new look at reciprocal prejudice Movio rcvisv By Dave Kehr "masala," explains Santa Choudhury as Mina, the young East Indian protagonist of Mira Nair's new film, is a fanciful blend of ating sublime dignity even as they register their overeager hourly guests. One of these establishments, the Monte Cristo Motel, has been home for several years to the beautiful, dark-skinned Mina and her parents, ever since they were exiled, along with all of the other "Asian economic exploiters," from Idi Amin's "Mississippi Masala" Directed by Mira Nalr; written by Soonl Taraporevaia; photographed by Ed Lachman; Eroduclion designed by Mitch Epstein; edited Roberto Silvi; music by L. Subramanlam; produced by Michael Nozrk and Mira Nair. A Samuel Goldwyn Co, release; opens Feb. 14 at the Chestnut Station Theatre.

Running time: 1:58. MPAA rating: R. Strong language, adult situations. THE CAST Demetrius Denzel Washington Mina Sarita Choudhury -Jay Roshan Setn Kinnu Tagore Tyrone Charles S. Dutton exotic spices the flavor, exactly, of the movie she is in.

The film is set in the sleepy environs of Greenwood, where, in one of those accidental juxtapositions of ethnic origin and professional specializa- I ifer frllnnft.rcaMstthriMtfiifrft'ntttliNiiiMl tion that entertainingly define so much of American life, the local motel industry is entirely dominated by Indian immigrants. The managers stand impassively behind laminated counters, radi 2 a LGRDE MICHAELS iraa a PEFiELCFE v. imi1 'fOIIKT Sarita Choudhury and Denzel Washington star In "Mississippi Masala. bizarre motel architecture and other ecAr American sleaze may be in part the contribution of cinematographer Ed Lachman, who has specialized in American location work for such European filmmakers as Wim Wenders and Werner Herzog and shares their fascination with roadside exotica. If the Indian-born, Harvard-educated Nair has a shortcoming as a director, it is her eagerness to go for facile emotional effects when she is clearly capable of so much more.

Though the film is far more discreet in its tear-jerking than Nair's debut feature, the 1988 "Salaam Bombay!" she needs to learn to relax and allow the audience to discover the characters and share their feelings, rather than go for the buzz-saw climax at every opportunity. Nair's skill with actors is evident in her handling of first-timer Choudhoury, Who gives an amazingly fresh, vivacious performance, as well as in the quick, vivid characterizations Nair establishes among the supporting cast Denzel Washington, though, seems to have gone largely his own way in his lead work. Washington, as immensely appealing as he is, is now more movie star than careful performer, relying on a bag of tricks-slow delivery, gradually unveiled, dazzling smile rather than trying to get beneath the skin of his character. He drifts through the part with the ease and obliviousness of Cary Grant in his later years a professional charmer more than a professional actor. Dave Kehr's star guide A thumbnail guide to Trifc one movie critic Dave Kehr's ratings of current films: The Double Ufa of Veronlqua "La Belle Noisatise" "Naked Lunch" "Hkih Heels" "Mississippi Masala" "35 Up" "Wayne World" "Final Analysis" "The Inner Circle" "KalHa" 'Madame Bovary" Uganda.

Mina's father, Jay (Roshan Seth), was a distinguished barrister back in Africa and has been unable to let go of the past. He passes his time writing unanswered letters and filing futile lawsuits in an attempt to cover the spectacular hilltop home that was taken from him when he was expelled. Mina's mother, Kinnu (Sharmila Tagore), is more realistic and more resigned, has opened a thinly stocked liquor store to contribute to the family's income. Mina, however, is a combustible blend of the African and the Indian, the European (the family lived for a spell in London) and the American. As stunning as she is, her rebellious spirit doesn't make her a good candidate for marriage within the Indian community.

When the local golden boy, the preening, pomaded son of a successful family, shows some interest in Mina, her mother is thrilled, but Mina is more intrigued by a young man she has met cute by rear-ending his van. Demetrius (Denzel Washington) is the proud owner of his own carpet-cleaning business (his improbably precious slogan is "Your dirt is our bread and and a confident African-American on his way up the economic ladder of the New South. Though he's immediately attracted to Mina, he uses her at first as a way of stirring the jealousy of his estranged girlfriend; not until he spends a weekend with Mina in a coastal resort does love break out, and massive scandal with it. Though "Mississippi Masala" is, by a conservative estimate, the film to appropriate "Romeo and Juliet" as a meta- Rhor for racial intolerance, air's film feels amazingly fresh and lively. By avoiding the traditional white-minority pairing and dealing instead with minority-on-minority prejudice, Nair docs away with the usual range of easy redneck villains and automatically induced guilt feelings.

The issues are more complex, the causes more difficult to discern and the resolution more remote when there are victims of racism on both sides of the conflict. As Demetrius says to Mina's outraged father, "Your skin is just a few shades lighter than mine." The movie assumes its mul-ticulturalism with grace and humor, moving between its various worlds with a delighted eye for distinguishing features and a fich sense of character. "The great -pleasure- Lhe4ilm- takes- in 1 V'M uulajU CTii nO liRES WATER TOWER CNcmo 3U553-CINI WESSTSRHACE URNHAM PLAZA CWco J1S553CIHI roBocmri CWcasoStSttn-IHI Httt fARR LINCOLN VILLAGE Chicago 31 855JCIM CHICAGO RIDGE KALI Chicwo R1 CIMl Iwfnn tuk 70s7MMOO CSGVI CINEMAS Otnmm Grow W317 CINE HiUSTSIO. irj.70M;-oiii tv im K'i i COHMDNICATIOSS COIMf flnnwwr mute! tun buw STARTS TgDAY RIVERTRIE COURT VmonHllh 708mi6l STRATFORD SQ. taomliwl 70S7377CIM OTSTHK HTS.

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