A couple of days ago, I wrote an excited preview for this film about a European woman, Carole, that falls in love with a Masai warrior.
The movie, The White Masai, is a film adaptation of the book by Corinne Hoffmann a true story of her life married to the Masai warrior, Lemalian. The story is uncomplicated: white woman ditches her white boyfriend to chase after an incredibly, exquisitely handsome African warrior.
And he is handsome played by Jacky Ido, most viewers will be impressed by his sinewy musculature and his sun fired ebony skin. In comparison with Carole’s boyfriend, he seems to be ethereal, transcending the grit and grime of the busy streets of Nairobi.
Carole, played by Nina Hoss, falls for Lemalian instantly, the movie plays out like we expect it to. She lives in the bush in a mud hut with traditional people with traditional traditions predictably, she experiences severe culture shock and clashes with customs of the Masai.
It’s all very good and interesting, especially with the scenery of the Kenyan grasslands. We don’t get to see any lions or elephants, but we’ll assume they’re everywhere. After all, this is Africa, man.
If I sound disinterested in the movie, it’s true: I was expecting a lot more, I suppose. Since the movie is based on a book that’s based on real life, it’s hardly fair to expect it to be epic, but somehow, I was hoping to admire Carole for her struggle to survive in Africa.
I didn’t like her Who could?
Oh, I imagine some of my female friends would watch her taking control of her life, seizing the moment, going after what she wants and they’d yell “You go, girlfriend!”
My argument is that if the genders were reversed, and a white man did that, he’d be viewed as a villain.
Before he returns to Switzerland, Carole’s boyfriend says ‘You just wanna get fucked’.
When she says goodbye to her family in Switzerland, before returning to Africa, her brother says ‘This is just a whim’.
Carole believes that it’s love, but actually, both men were right. It WAS a whim and she DID want a fuck. She knows nothing about Lemalian, and is just physically attracted to him, which he misinterprets as love. And her first private meeting with him results in her getting, honestly, fucked and poorly, at that. It’s a vindictive, delicious moment.
Along the way, people advise her of many things, how to act, what to do she ignores them all in her stubborn blindness, and naturally, the relationship between Carole and Lemalian becomes strained.
No offense to Ms. Hoffmann the writer, but if the movie is an accurate depiction of how you behaved, you were a bitch. You made no effort to understand their culture, and you imposed your views on a traditional people. My hope is that the filmmakers changed the story to make you seem like a selfish brat.
Otherwise, Hoffmann is probably in Geneva right now, eating dark chocolate and buying a purse from an overpriced Prada shop. ‘This is quite lovely,’ she’ll tell her friend, ‘but when I was in Kenya, the Masai have these really beautiful animal skin purses. That experience really changed me. I am so cool.’
And then off in her SUV, on her cell phone talking to her accountant about the royalties she’ll make. ‘Mwa ha ha!’ she’ll cackle, filling her mouth with croissants and baked ricotta. ‘Mwa ha ha!’ she shout, rolling around in piles of money.
No, sorry, I’m being cruel. I just don’t like this girl, that’s all.
I say: See the movie because it’s damn interesting. Real life is never as good as comic books, except for Maus, so don’t have great expectations.
Why to see it: Nina Hoss is not a pretty actress, but she is a pleasure to watch. Also, she has an incredible body and we get to see a lot of it, writhing around in pleasure.
Also, the first sexual encounter between Lemalian and Carole is kick-you-in-the-mouth-laugh-out-loud good.
To watch more movies like The White Masai (2005) hurawatch
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