Customer Reviews

The Mystic Masseur [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i agree with the comments made about the lack of storyline and the slightly abrupt ending to the movie. frankly though, the time period and culture depicted in the movie was engrossing enough to make me forget about the storyline. the language, the scenery, the characters, the blend of cultures, the simplicity and the quest for little pleasures, all of that came together to make a movie, quite superbly different than most of the stuff i have seen recently. i smiled, and occassionally laughed, through the whole thing. it really isn't about sending your brain circuits on fire while looking for "so what happens"...its just about that movie watching experience, one that sends you off onto a journey to a different place in a different time where all these characters become your friends (and foes) and maybe the pace and climax of the movie is because its originally a book. i truly recommed it to all.its refreshing!

This is an unusual Merchant/Ivory film that focuses on the Indian community of Trinidad from 1943 to about 1954. It focuses in particular upon a young teacher, who takes a wife, outfoxes her wily, grasping father, and lives in the country, desiring only to write books. Still, he has to earn a living, so he becomes a masseur, which is not a masseuse, but rather, a healer. He also writes a books on Hinduism, which he publishes himself. He becomes known as the Mystic Masseur and develops a country wide following.

His book and those books that follow are quickly bought up by a now adoring public who revere him as a Pundit. A brief career in politics soon follows, only for him to discover that an adoring public can turn fickle. The film meanders along, as does this pundit's life. With first rate cinematography and stellar performances by the entire cast, this is a very good, though unusual, film. Those who are interested in other cultures will find this film of some interest. If you are not so inclined, deduct one star from my review.

When my wife and I look for unique movies we are quite often disappointed! But on occasion we strike it rich. For our first night, I was a bit too tired to stay awake thru thirty minutes, but she stayed with it for over half. The next evening we both finished it with an absorbing interest... Yet we had questions about the length of timing from the beginning in Oxford all the way thru Ganeesh getting married to writing his first book, the dabbling with politics, becoming a famous healer, then his fame as author and political figure leading him back to Oxford.

We commented on the good acting, the scenery of Trinidad, their cultures and great contrasts with England and India. Yet we still had questions about the central personalities and the unique images of their change from "country-like common people" who suddenly matured into readers with a quickly developed background to give them remarkable powers of healing, judgment and wisdom. All in all, I have a temptation to pass the movie off to three friends who might have some interest in suggested Theology of their Hindu thinking about the spiritual gifts of Pundit in his ability to heal both body and spirit!

It may well be that leaving the story open-ended was intentional with potential results of allowing more questions for discussion and word-of-mouth advertising of such an engrossing story!

Retired Chaplain Fred W. Hood

Yet another of my "whatever the heck is playing" excursions to the local theatre, "The Mystic Masseur" could have been about anything, I figured. After all, I thoroughly enjoyed "Monsoon Wedding", so I had high hopes for this movie, about Trinidadians of Indian descent.

"The Mystic Masseur" is about a young scholar who decides to chuck his teaching job, only to author a book that eventually launches his career as a masseur, which is more than just someone who gives a rub-down--in this context, a masseur is something of a shaman healer. There is much that is good in this movie, but it has problems that keep it from getting a higher rating from me.

Good: The acting is all first-rate, and it is quite a funny movie in many spots. I especially love one female character who always has to interrupt her advice to the scholar with continual chastisement of her son--"'Ey boy, leave that parrot alone or I will hit you" in that lilting Trinidadian speech.

Bad: This is a movie that has passage of time in it. The masseur
ages, his friend ages, the little boy grows up, but oddly enough, the masseur's wife has no old makeup and doesn't do anything to suggest that she has moved on in years like everyone else. Why is that? Another, more serious flaw is that the movie just stops, and the credits roll. The ending is not at all definitive enough--that's a big problem. In fact, it was only when I sat there looking at the credits rolling that I learned this was a Merchant Ivory film. Well, just goes to show that not every movie can be "Room with a View". There was nothing here to EVER make me wonder whether this film came from that team.

Final verdict? Could have stood a little massaging to make it into a better movie than ultimately it is.

I saw the "Mystic Massuer" recently. As a Trinidadian I eagerly looked forward to seeing a cinematographic presentation of a work by one of our finest writers. I was sorely disappointed. The acting fell far below what I'd expected - with the actors seeming to merely go through the motions. The story dragged and lacked development (what about Ganesh's wife not being able to have a baby!!) and, after all that, the film ended too abruptly. Costuming was unreal, historical facts were distorted (steelpan music on the radio!!), and accents seemed to come and go. I look forward to seeing a cinema showing this part of the world using Caribbean actors. Please do something about making the story move - just because pundit meanders through his life, doesn't mean I want to feel like I'm spending a lifetime meandering through this film. The best thing I can say is: Thanks for paying tribute to writer V. S. Naipaul. Had some nice scenery.