Surprisingly this movie hasn't been more widely publicized and marketed. It's very clearly told in a balanced way, beautifully shot and well acted.
Criticism has been made of the love story and sanitizing the partition of India into Pakistan and India. These criticisms are unwarranted. You need central characters and the love story is surprisingly not annoying and quite touching as the 2 leads are fairly likable. As for sanitizing the partition - while no actual hacking and massacres are depicted, the human toll of the division feature prominently in the plot.
This is no dated apologist version of events. The story is very 21st century in it's political correctness. Blame for the problems between the Hindus and Muslims is laid squarely on British policy of divide and rule. Racist staff are dismissed and the British ruling class are slapped spat upon and chastised for their role in events. Shockingly the partition is revealed to be Churchill's idea in order to follow some cold war anti Soviet agenda.
There is one casting mistake. Hugh Bonneville is very wrong physically for the role of Louis Mountbatten. He is too plump and doesn't look like Mountbatten who was thin and lean. Gillian Anderson on the other hand is very suited to the role. She looks like her and acts superbly. It's quite a big role showing her enlightened and compassionate nature trying to help in what way she could.
Worth a watch.
Criticism has been made of the love story and sanitizing the partition of India into Pakistan and India. These criticisms are unwarranted. You need central characters and the love story is surprisingly not annoying and quite touching as the 2 leads are fairly likable. As for sanitizing the partition - while no actual hacking and massacres are depicted, the human toll of the division feature prominently in the plot.
This is no dated apologist version of events. The story is very 21st century in it's political correctness. Blame for the problems between the Hindus and Muslims is laid squarely on British policy of divide and rule. Racist staff are dismissed and the British ruling class are slapped spat upon and chastised for their role in events. Shockingly the partition is revealed to be Churchill's idea in order to follow some cold war anti Soviet agenda.
There is one casting mistake. Hugh Bonneville is very wrong physically for the role of Louis Mountbatten. He is too plump and doesn't look like Mountbatten who was thin and lean. Gillian Anderson on the other hand is very suited to the role. She looks like her and acts superbly. It's quite a big role showing her enlightened and compassionate nature trying to help in what way she could.
Worth a watch.