couchdog53:

Beautiful cinematography and a compelling story make this film a pleasure to watch. It deals with infidelity and it's devastating consequences in a traditional society. The telling of the story is more than the story itself, and the journey is more than the destination. The story actually takes a back seat to the awesome visuals. However this is not award worthy material, nor is it profoundly moving. That's not why I like it. I love movies filmed in other countries and India is one of my favorite locations. Kerala in southern India has such beautiful scenery it's almost like the location is the true star and all the actors just have supporting roles, although Nandita Das is gorgeous and the film seems to revolve around her. Don't get me wrong the acting is good, but this is not a movie that requires much thought. I still liked it a lot. I realize it's not for everyone but hopefully it will work for you and I hope you like it as much as I did.

Bunched Undies:

?Before The Rains? is an entertaining, if fleeting, epic of colonial India and by the time you drop it in the return mail, you will have forgotten all about it. Linus Roche stars as an uptight British plantation owner named Moores. He and his loyal foreman T.J. (Rahul Bose) hatch an ambitious scheme to plant acres of tea and spices, all while building a monsoon-proof mountain road over rugged terrain. As if that weren?t enough to keep Moores busy, he also finds time to diddle his beautiful Indian housekeeper Sajani (Nandita Das), a rustic villager who takes Moores? attentions quite seriously and serves him her heart and soul along with the vindaloo. All is peachy in Moores? selfish paradise until one day when his wife and child return to the plantation from an extended visit to England, and find not only oppressive humidity, but a series of odd occurrences, as Moores and T.J. attempt to keep Sajani?s expectations and emotions in check. We learn much about the depressing existence led by young women in tribal areas of India during that time, and how the Anglo concept of free will was as foreign and unknown as space travel. And it is clear that Moores? arrogant ignorance of tribal customs has caused his harmless little affair to morph into a tide of anger and destruction that threatens to wash away his dreams like a monsoon flood. Director Santosh Sivan has worked primarily as a cinematographer for much of his career, as is evidenced by the film?s sweeping mountain panoramas and beautiful candle-lit interior scenes. But the splendid visuals are not quite enough to elevate this film beyond the ordinary, as the script has a shortage of profound moments, not to mention a few holes. In all, the acting is quite good, especially Bose and Jennifer Ehle as Mrs. Moores. While the film features many betrayals, the first, and most damaging, is the script itself.

Southern Belle 1:

BEFORE THE RAINS is set in beautiful Southern India in 1937. Whether the story and the acting are worthy of 4 stars is arguable - whether the cinematography is magnificent is not. The story focuses on a British plantation owner whose future wealth is directly dependent upon the successful completion of a road through a rain forest before the monsoon season begins. Henry Moore (handsome Linus Roache) has a large bank loan pending the road's completion. He depends upon his faithful "servant," T K Neelan (Rahul Rose), to take charge of the project. All is going well until Moore's wife (Jennifer Ehle) and son arrive to live with him - and they are not aware that Moore has been engaging in an affair with beautiful Sanjani (Nandita Das), a house servant. Circumstances soon evolve out of Moore's control and he finds himself at risk of not only having his loan called in, but also of being caught up in far greater concerns. The character T K steals the show with his excellent portrayal of inner conflict between loyalty to one's master/employer (Moore) and loyalty to one's people. Roache and Ehle are perfect as the married British couple who have grown apart. Some say this romantic drama is predictable. For me, however, it was not. There is illicit romance, cultural traditions, violence, suspicion, fear, and breathtaking backdrops - all of which combine to showcase an entertaining and compelling story. 01-25-10

1d56bcdd85:

Passion has its price, indeed. Before The Rains tells a story of passion that costs dearly. Giving up to the whim of passion is a slippery road for Henry Moores (Linus Roache), a British spice baron in 1930s India. Against the backdrop of Indian nationalism, Henry tried to build up his spice empire, an ambition that slided on slippery slope as he carried on an affair with his housekeeper, Sajani (Nandita Das) in the absence of his wife Laura (Jennifer Ehle) and son. T.K. Neelan (Rahul Bose) worked of Moores. He was inadvertently thrown into the complicated situation. Caught between personal ambition and the volatile nationalism against the British power in India, T.K. had to choose his path.

fewstingscorpio:

This was a beautifully filmed movie. I loved the soundtrack that enhanced it very nicely. It was an o.k movie. It wasn't bad. Where I normally would just love a movie like this with relationships, cultural problems, beautiful music and scenery, it was just too simple and left me a little unfilled. I would rate it a 3 1/2, because it was so beautiful.

108ffd9ecd:

The movie is set in Kerala, India (1937). Henry (a spice baron) sets up his plantation (in India). His wife lives in England and visits him from time to time. Henry enjoys his life (on the plantation). He has an affair with Sajani (his housekeeper). This basically puts his whole life and plantation in danger. The country-side is pretty. The movie gives you an insight into the daily life of the Indian people. Basically they dont care much (for the British people). I enjoyed the movie. 01-04-09

szh 1252217:

Wow... this movie was so terrible, I quit in the middle. I thought a Merchant Ivory production meant something... Cardboard characters, predictable plot, and a general lack of nuance - just yuck. Yeah, I didn't finish it, but it was so hopeless it could never have redeemed itself... I'm glad I saved myself some time to watch TV. For a similar themed movie that was actually GOOD, watch Passage to India.