#1127: NAIR, Mira: Mississippi Masala (1991)

NAIR, Mira (United States)
Mississippi Masala [1991]
Spine #1127
Blu-ray


The vibrant cultures of India, Uganda, and the American South come together in Mira Nair’s Mississippi Masala, a luminous look at the complexities of love in the modern melting pot. Years after her Indian family was forced to flee their home in Uganda by the dictatorship of Idi Amin, twentysomething Mina (Sarita Choudhury) spends her days cleaning rooms in an Indian-run motel in Mississippi. When she falls for the charming Black carpet cleaner Demetrius (Denzel Washington), their passionate romance challenges the prejudices of both of their families and exposes the rifts between the region’s Indian and African American communities. Tackling thorny issues of racism, colorism, culture clash, and displacement with bighearted humor and keen insight, Nair serves up a sweet, sexy, and deeply satisfying celebration of love’s power.

117 minutes
Color
2.0 Surround
in English and Swahili
1:85:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2022


Director/Writers

Written by Sooni Taraporevala.
Mira Nair was 34 when she directed Mississippi Masala.

Other films by Nair in the Collection:

#489: Moonsoon Wedding (2001)

The Film

a

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Forty-four page booklet featuring an essay by critic Bilal Qureshi and excerpts from Nair’s production journal.

Commentary

Featuring Nair.

Conversation

Between actor Choudhury and film critic Devika Girish.

Interviews

With DP Ed Lachman, screenwriter Taraporevela, and production designer and photographer Mitch Epstein.

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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