Friday 20 May 2011

Holy Smoke (3½ Stars)

This is one of those films that I think has a message somewhere, but I just don't know what the writer and director are trying to say.

Kate Winslet plays a young Australian girl who goes on holiday to India and joins a cult. Since they suspect brainwashing her family and friends kidnap her and deliver her to a deprogrammer, played by Harvey Keitel. From his first appearance he makes an arrogant overbearing impression, alienating all around him by saying he's the best at what he does and everyone should just do what he says. While isolated together in a desert hut the deprogammer takes advantage of the girl, seducing her and making her emotionally dependent on him.

Excellent performances by the two lead characters, but I can't rate this any higher because I just don't understand the message. Cults are good, deprogrammers are bad? Your guess is as good as mine.

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