When I heard of this movie, I must admit that I have not known much about it. First, I have not read the novel by Corinne Hofmann. Moreover, there are no famous names of cast that would draw my attention. What called my interest was Africa, the continent that has not been very popular in movies but so attractive in itself together with both its beauties as well as its difficulties. I saw some movies about this continent, including "The African Queen" (1951) by John Huston and "Nirgendwo in Afrika" (2001) by Caroline Link. Therefore, I went to see "Die Weisse Massai" expecting that I would equally like this movie. What were my feelings about it after leaving the cinema? The film surprised me as very good in some aspects and average in some other ones.
The film does a very good job in one theme it accurately shows the culture clash that is doomed to appear in the situation it shows. A Swiss woman, Carola (Nina Hoss), goes to Kenya, accidentally meets a Massai warrior Lemalian (Jacky Ido), falls in love and begins to live with him in harsh conditions, almost unbearable for any European. At first, it seems that love will conquer all difficulties and differences but, in the long run, the situation does not occur to be as simple as that. Everything is O.K." or Alles in Ordnung" becomes a slogan that has nothing to do with the true situation...The first problem turns out to be sex with this man he is deadly selfish and treats love between a man and a woman as an act of pleasure for man only. Carola teaches him how to love her...and it goes in the right direction but sex occurs to be not everything, particularly in such a relationship. Soon she says The longer I live with him, the less I understand him and not only kisses make a problem..." So what makes the problem? Almost everything: lifestyle, traditions, social behavior, treatment of important matters in life, and, of course, male-female relations. I liked the way the movie showed this Carola does not realize how difficult it is to live with Lemalian at first but gradually. When she sees how young girls are treated in the tribe, she feels petrified and disgusted... yet, there is nothing she can do, as the Pastor says. This is the way they have been living for hundreds of years! What right do we have to change them? When she opens the shop, it gradually brings serious problems since relatives don't understand how it should work. Why? Because she saw the business reality in a Swiss way and wanted to adopt it among the Massai this adopting of culture by force was best presented in the shop sequence or when Carola allows Lemalian to drive. Finally, the most serious problem Carola has to cope with is when her husband accuses her of betraying him with other men. She smiles at male customers in order to be nice. Her husband sees this as flirting... SPOILER: Nevertheless, the two scenes that I very much disliked were when Lemalian accuses the Pastor for making love to his woman and when Lemalian says to Carola that some rotten remains went out of her body. These were highly out of good taste! But generally speaking, the film is an accurate presentation of the problem. People who think that male-female love will do for everything should see this movie.
There is another advantage of this movie the true African reality. We see the cities, the landscape, the markets, the real core of African life. The movie is mostly shot in Africa, which makes it exceptionally authentic. Some scenes filmed in the beautiful landscape of Kenya are fabulous. We not only see the real African inhabitants but also hear their language. Moreover, there is a lot to be found about their customs and traditions, sometimes obscure habits but customs that have a right to be respected. This all provides a viewer with a chance to see the real Africa on screen. In this case, I must mention the moment when Carola travels by bus, a woman by her side asks her for the destination of her journey. The reaction to Carola's answer... for us such a behavior is vague but African people find this absolutely normal.
The performances are fine. Nina Hoss does a very good job as a woman who is driven to do something by her desires and gradually realizes how difficult it is to live in such a reality. She gives a very appealing performance and feels the role straightly from the beginning to the surprising end. Jacky Ido is good as Lemalian, a Massai warrior and a European woman's lover. But here, a mention must be made of many African people who behave very naturally before cameras and make the film highly authentic.
Finally, there is, however, one problem about the movie its totally predictable content. I watched the film and almost knew what would come later. It is easy to predict the behavior of such a woman. They are all very similar in what they do, not to offend anyone, at first see sex and then open their eyes and realize difficulties. Then, they don't get used to harsh living conditions and give up this life. Yet, the consequences do not disappear automatically... Therefore, it appears that there is nothing that may conquer cultural conflict, nothing - not even true love.
All in all, in spite of some drawbacks of the film, THE WHITE MASSAI WOMAN is a nice psychological insight into culture clash. But even if you are not particularly fond of the story, I still recommend you to see the film due to the authentic Africa. Besides, the performance of Nina Hoss is exceptionally memorable. You will surely like something about the film. Worth looking for! 7/10
The film does a very good job in one theme it accurately shows the culture clash that is doomed to appear in the situation it shows. A Swiss woman, Carola (Nina Hoss), goes to Kenya, accidentally meets a Massai warrior Lemalian (Jacky Ido), falls in love and begins to live with him in harsh conditions, almost unbearable for any European. At first, it seems that love will conquer all difficulties and differences but, in the long run, the situation does not occur to be as simple as that. Everything is O.K." or Alles in Ordnung" becomes a slogan that has nothing to do with the true situation...The first problem turns out to be sex with this man he is deadly selfish and treats love between a man and a woman as an act of pleasure for man only. Carola teaches him how to love her...and it goes in the right direction but sex occurs to be not everything, particularly in such a relationship. Soon she says The longer I live with him, the less I understand him and not only kisses make a problem..." So what makes the problem? Almost everything: lifestyle, traditions, social behavior, treatment of important matters in life, and, of course, male-female relations. I liked the way the movie showed this Carola does not realize how difficult it is to live with Lemalian at first but gradually. When she sees how young girls are treated in the tribe, she feels petrified and disgusted... yet, there is nothing she can do, as the Pastor says. This is the way they have been living for hundreds of years! What right do we have to change them? When she opens the shop, it gradually brings serious problems since relatives don't understand how it should work. Why? Because she saw the business reality in a Swiss way and wanted to adopt it among the Massai this adopting of culture by force was best presented in the shop sequence or when Carola allows Lemalian to drive. Finally, the most serious problem Carola has to cope with is when her husband accuses her of betraying him with other men. She smiles at male customers in order to be nice. Her husband sees this as flirting... SPOILER: Nevertheless, the two scenes that I very much disliked were when Lemalian accuses the Pastor for making love to his woman and when Lemalian says to Carola that some rotten remains went out of her body. These were highly out of good taste! But generally speaking, the film is an accurate presentation of the problem. People who think that male-female love will do for everything should see this movie.
There is another advantage of this movie the true African reality. We see the cities, the landscape, the markets, the real core of African life. The movie is mostly shot in Africa, which makes it exceptionally authentic. Some scenes filmed in the beautiful landscape of Kenya are fabulous. We not only see the real African inhabitants but also hear their language. Moreover, there is a lot to be found about their customs and traditions, sometimes obscure habits but customs that have a right to be respected. This all provides a viewer with a chance to see the real Africa on screen. In this case, I must mention the moment when Carola travels by bus, a woman by her side asks her for the destination of her journey. The reaction to Carola's answer... for us such a behavior is vague but African people find this absolutely normal.
The performances are fine. Nina Hoss does a very good job as a woman who is driven to do something by her desires and gradually realizes how difficult it is to live in such a reality. She gives a very appealing performance and feels the role straightly from the beginning to the surprising end. Jacky Ido is good as Lemalian, a Massai warrior and a European woman's lover. But here, a mention must be made of many African people who behave very naturally before cameras and make the film highly authentic.
Finally, there is, however, one problem about the movie its totally predictable content. I watched the film and almost knew what would come later. It is easy to predict the behavior of such a woman. They are all very similar in what they do, not to offend anyone, at first see sex and then open their eyes and realize difficulties. Then, they don't get used to harsh living conditions and give up this life. Yet, the consequences do not disappear automatically... Therefore, it appears that there is nothing that may conquer cultural conflict, nothing - not even true love.
All in all, in spite of some drawbacks of the film, THE WHITE MASSAI WOMAN is a nice psychological insight into culture clash. But even if you are not particularly fond of the story, I still recommend you to see the film due to the authentic Africa. Besides, the performance of Nina Hoss is exceptionally memorable. You will surely like something about the film. Worth looking for! 7/10