Viceroy's House

As noted earlier, I re-watched What's Cooking? (didn't remember most of it, so that's fine), and it turns out it was directed by the woman (British with Indian background born in British Kenya, during the final years of rule) behind Bend It Like Beckham. She also directed Bride and Prejudice, another film I watched. And, many others.

The small sample shows she tends to direct somewhat light hearted films that deal with families involving in a cultural clash of some sort. The last one is a sort of Bollywood version of Jane Austin though don't recall THAT much music/dancing. Viceroy's House (she also later was behind a historical miniseries) is something of a change of pace. It involves the final days of British rule and the partition of India. As whole, I liked it.

The reviews were somewhat mixed and the "white guilt" complaints have something of a point, especially near the end. Recall again a British Indian woman directed this. The film also tosses in a sort of conspiracy theory on the partition being pre-ordained that appears to be of somewhat dubious historical accuracy. But, we should always be wary of taking historical films at face value. The last few minutes of the film, including rather cheesy bit, also probably should have been left out. But, a lot to like.