By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Barlen Pyamootoo
Starring: Davidsen Kamanah | Jérôme Boulle | Kristeven Mootien
Country: mauritius
Year: 2005
Running time: 75
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387870/combined
Bruce says: “BENARES is the first film from novelist Barlen Pyamootoo who has lived and studied in France. It is also the first film ever from the country of Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar with a population of lightly over one million.
“Nad (Davidsen Kamanah) and Mayi (Kristeven Mootien) are two young men who live in Benares a small village of 200 in southern Mauritius. One is a fisherman, the other a mechanic. When Mayi wins money gambling the two talk their much older friend Jimi into taking them across the island of Mauritius in his pickup truck to fined two prostitutes that will agree to come back to Benares and spend the night. Jimi knows a madam named Ma Tante. She directs them to another madam with two girls, Mina and Zelda, whose services they buy for about $20 each.
“The balance of the film takes place on the long trip back to Benares as the two boys and two girls get to know one another and establish common ground. Nad and Mina both like soccer. Mina tells Nad about her son. Zelda likes to listen and learn about new things. Mayi tells her about his trip to the ‘other Benares’ – Benares, India – where people go to die because they will be close to heaven’s gates. Zelda is captivated by Mayi’s sophistication. Nad later whispers to Mayi ‘You’ve never been to India, Why did you tell her that?’
“There is a subplot about a missing villager named Sam. Since that part of the story remained unresolved at the end of the film, the director was questioned as to why. He said that the subplot was going to be the subject of his next film.
“BENARES is rich in color and Pyamootoo’s accomplished sense of visual composition.is a good match for his simple but captivating story. The cinematographer makes rocks and bumps in the terrain look interesting. BENARES is a lovely little film. 3.5 cats”