Rating: 
Summary: Something for everyone
Review: I'm a big fan of Denzel, and all reviewers are right about the quality and sensuality of the love story that is central to this movie. And where else will most of us get to see Denzel do "The Electric Slide?" But...having said that, I found that the love story was the least interesting thing about this movie! I was fascinated to learn about the Indian culture in the South (and I have seen the "American owned" signs on motels in the South, an obvious attempt to attract patrons who don't want to stay at an Indian owned motel). The deep pain of exile felt by the father was the most moving element to me. I felt moved to tears at several points, and at the end. As a Jew, I identified very strongly with the father's and family's distress at being forcibly and violently evicted from home based on racial and ethnic hatred. A wonderful film.
Rating:
Summary: "Home is Where the Heart is"
Review: I've been a fan of Mira Nair's "Mississippi Masala" since seeing it's original theatrical release in the early '90s. I was very dissapointed, when for a good period of time it was out of print.Now to my great surprise and delight the movie has been released to DVD."Mississippi Masala" is a wonderful comedy/drama about coming of age, race relations and ruminations of home and the heart.Director, Mira Nair has deftly told the story of a transplanted Indian family, who has uneasily settled in rural Mississippi.We learn (in a series of backflashes) how the family had to sadly leave their native country of Uganda, under a mass expulsion ordered by dictator,General Idi Amin in the early '70s. The family's father, Jaye (well played by Roshan Seth) loses everything including his property, his best friend, his country and his self respect.Fast forward eighteen years later. The immigrant family's daughter, Mina (Sarita Choudury) has grown into a beautiful young women and is the 'Masala' of the film's title (a hot & spicey mixture of exotic ingrediants). Through a series of comical incidents she meets and falls in love with an pesonable, African American man named Demitrious (Denzel Washington), who runs his own carpet cleaning business.Sparks fly as the area's two minority communities (African-American & Indian) react with both hostlity and humor to the lover's interacial romance.This is a story about discovering one's place in life. About finding out where you belong and being with the one you love. Eventually the main characters learn the lesson that "home is where the heart is".This is wonderful moving film that touches both the heart and the funnybone.I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: "Home is Where the Heart is"
Review: I've been a fan of Mira Nair's "Mississippi Masala" since seeing it's original theatrical release in the early '90s. I was very dissapointed, when for a good period of time it was out of print.Now to my great surprise and delight the movie has been released to DVD."Mississippi Masala" is a wonderful comedy/drama about coming of age, race relations and ruminations of home and the heart.Director, Mira Nair has deftly told the story of a transplanted Indian family, who has uneasily settled in rural Mississippi.We learn (in a series of backflashes) how the family had to sadly leave their native country of Uganda, under a mass expulsion ordered by dictator,General Idi Amin in the early '70s. The family's father, Jaye (well played by Roshan Seth) loses everything including his property, his best friend, his country and his self respect.Fast forward eighteen years later. The immigrant family's daughter, Mina (Sarita Choudury) has grown into a beautiful young women and is the 'Masala' of the film's title (a hot & spicey mixture of exotic ingrediants). Through a series of comical incidents she meets and falls in love with an pesonable, African American man named Demitrious (Denzel Washington), who runs his own carpet cleaning business.Sparks fly as the area's two minority communities (African-American & Indian) react with both hostlity and humor to the lover's interacial romance.This is a story about discovering one's place in life. About finding out where you belong and being with the one you love. Eventually the main characters learn the lesson that "home is where the heart is".This is wonderful moving film that touches both the heart and the funnybone.I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: magnificent film!
Review: If you aren't familiar with Mira Nair, the brilliant Indian filmmaker who has brought us magnificent (and more recent films) like Monsoon Wedding, this is a great introduction to her genius. I happen to be a Denzel Washington fan, and wanted to see his earlier work, which led me to rent this film.It is set in the South, and is centered on Meena (Sarita Chudhury), an young, ethnically-Indian, Ugandan national who immigrated to the Southern United States with her parents after the uprising of Idi Amin (Ugandan president) who decided that the way to rid the nation of the "Asian problem" was to expel them from the country to begin with. She settles in the States, cleaning hotel bathrooms with her Mum, and living with her parents as a 24 year old woman. Demetrius (Denzel Washington) is a young African-American man who cleans carpets and helps support his family and stays out of trouble. What initially starts out as a "rebound" relationship turns into something more--which upsets both sets of families. Though, Meena and Demetrius are outcast in a White culture, there are still divisions between their races that are reinforced by their parents and relatives. It also is an interesting juxtaposition of Meena's family and their experiences with Black Ugandans (ethnic Indians as the ultimate "untouchables" in the African nation), and how Indians in the U.S. South are viewed in comparison with African-Americans who endured White racism, and, before that, slavery and great oppression for many years. The acting is beautiful in this film, and the love story of the interracial couple is engaging, funny, and touching. For Mira Nair buffs---she makes an appearance in the wedding scene, early on, as one of the gossipy guests! Hint: She has short black hair.......
Don't miss this beautiful, heartfelt and thoughtful film.
Rating:
Summary: magnificent film!
Review: If you aren't familiar with Mira Nair, the brilliant Indian filmmaker who has brought us magnificent (and more recent films) like Monsoon Wedding, this is a great introduction to her genius. I happen to be a Denzel Washington fan, and wanted to see his earlier work, which led me to rent this film. It is set in the South, and is centered on Meena (Sarita Chudhury), an young, ethnically-Indian, Ugandan national who immigrated to the Southern United States with her parents after the uprising of Idi Amin (Ugandan president) who decided that the way to rid the nation of the "Asian problem" was to expel them from the country to begin with. She settles in the States, cleaning hotel bathrooms with her Mum, and living with her parents as a 24 year old woman. Demetrius (Denzel Washington) is a young African-American man who cleans carpets and helps support his family and stays out of trouble. What initially starts out as a "rebound" relationship turns into something more--which upsets both sets of families. Though, Meena and Demetrius are outcast in a White culture, there are still divisions between their races that are reinforced by their parents and relatives. It also is an interesting juxtaposition of Meena's family and their experiences with Black Ugandans (ethnic Indians as the ultimate "untouchables" in the African nation), and how Indians in the U.S. South are viewed in comparison with African-Americans who endured White racism, and, before that, slavery and great oppression for many years. The acting is beautiful in this film, and the love story of the interracial couple is engaging, funny, and touching. For Mira Nair buffs---she makes an appearance in the wedding scene, early on, as one of the gossipy guests! Hint: She has short black hair.......
Don't miss this beautiful, heartfelt and thoughtful film.
Rating:
Summary: A Lesson to be Learned By ALL!
Review: Mira Nair's film "teaches" without being preachy. The motion picture explores racism in all its ugly forms. The story begins with the expulsion of Indians and other Asians from Uganda because "Africa is for Africans" and brings one family to America (Mississippi, to be exact). There the family, specifically the daughter (Sarita Choudhury) in her relationship with a black man (Denzel Washington) experiences some of the same prejudices faced in Uganda. In one very amusing, yet revealing, series of scenes, various characters "speak" to the screen sharing their opinions about other races, as well as those of the same race with a different skin hue. "Masala" is a beautiful film with strong performances by Washington, Choudhury, and veteran actors Roshan Seth and Joe Seneca. The supporting cast also complements a truly entertaining film. Hopefully, the studio that released the film will re-issue it in video form for others to view this fine production.
Rating:
Summary: A Lesson to be Learned By ALL!
Review: Mira Nair's film "teaches" without being preachy. The motion picture explores racism in all its ugly forms. The story begins with the expulsion of Indians and other Asians from Uganda because "Africa is for Africans" and brings one family to America (Mississippi, to be exact). There the family, specifically the daughter (Sarita Choudhury) in her relationship with a black man (Denzel Washington) experiences some of the same prejudices faced in Uganda. In one very amusing, yet revealing, series of scenes, various characters "speak" to the screen sharing their opinions about other races, as well as those of the same race with a different skin hue. "Masala" is a beautiful film with strong performances by Washington, Choudhury, and veteran actors Roshan Seth and Joe Seneca. The supporting cast also complements a truly entertaining film. Hopefully, the studio that released the film will re-issue it in video form for others to view this fine production.
Rating:
Summary: The best multiracial movie ever made
Review: Mississippi Masala is the best Innerracial movie ever done. It deals with the issue of a multiracial relationship, and shows that true love wins at the end. So well done!!!! I wish more movies were produces on this level.
Rating:
Summary: DVD PLEASE!
Review: Out of all of Denzel Washington's movies, this is probably my favorite. This is an extremely powerful story of how love can cross ethnic and cultural barriers. When are the powers that be going to convert this to DVD? I've been patiently waiting.
Rating:
Summary: Mix Masala
Review: Synopsis
An Indian family (husband, wife and 6 yr old daughter Mina) are expelled from Uganda under the reign of dictator Idi Amin. The family eventually moves to the U.S. When Mina grows up she finds herself caught between cultures (Africa, India, America etc), and considers herself a "mix masala". She later falls in love with a black carpet cleaner (Denzel Washington) only to stir up a whole heap of trouble among her family, culture and community. My Review
I love it! Written by Sooni Taraporevala, and directed by Mira Nair, this movie came out in '92, but I did not see it until 2000. It was so well done, there should be more films like this. The romance was very nicely scripted, and the story was very accurate in its depiction of what happens when an Indian girl has an affair with a non-Indian in America, how the family reacts etc. Also, certain scenes are so funny, you half to stop the tape to finish cracking up! Interesting, fun, and heartwarming. Excellent!
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