vernon film society
Bringing the best in world and Canadian film to film lovers of Vernon and the North Okanagan
THE WHITE MASAI
Director: Hermine Huntgeburth
Cast: Nina Hoss, Jacky Ido, Katja Flint, Nino Prester, Janek Rieke
Run Time: 132 minutes
Country: Germany
Language: German, English, Maa with English subtitles
Rating: 14A (Sexually suggestive scenes, nudity)
Reviews: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/white_masai
The White Masai , which was a Gala presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival® in 2005, will carry you away on an epic journey. At once a captivating romance and a breathtaking travelogue into the Kenyan outback, the film is based on the bestselling autobiography by Corinne Hofmann, and tells the unbelievable – yet true – fish-out-of-water tale of a white European woman who becomes the wife of a Masai warrior. The exotic urban jungle of Mombasa – where the two fall in love – and the tiny village surrounded by majestic landscapes where they make their home provide a backdrop that is nothing short of extraordinary.
Carola (Nina Hoss, who won the Bavarian Film Award for Best Actress for this performance) had intended to vacation on the stunning white sand beaches of Kenya with her boyfriend Stefan (Janek Rieke) for only two weeks. Her plans change dramatically when she meets Lemalian (Jacky Ido), a handsome Masai warrior dressed in his traditional tribal garb. Soon she breaks things off with Stefan and resolves to stay with Lemalian for good despite their seemingly insurmountable cultural differences, the many bureaucratic hurdles thrown in her way and the diseases against which Carola has not been immunized. Barely able to communicate with her new love, this yuppie-ish Swiss businesswoman moves to the bush to live with Lemalian and his tribe. When Carola starts a grocery store, buys a car and struggles to adapt to this radically new environment, it looks like their relationship may triumph against adversity. But can it truly flourish in the face of this cataclysmic culture clash? THE WHITE MASAI is marked by a strong affinity between director Hermine Huntgeburth’s assured and confident directorial style and the emotional strength, vulnerability and depth of her fascinating protagonist. Huntgeburth and Hoss bring Carola to life with remarkable insight, feeling and clarity. THE WHITE MASAI is a gorgeous film of incredible beauty: it will make your heart sing.
"The film makes excellent use of its African locations, presenting the continent in all its beauty and mystery." – Peter Howell, The Toronto Star
"Visually stunning, The White Masai is an unforgettable love story that takes us deep into the heart of Kenya. The course of true love is never smooth, and the story of a Swiss woman who marries a Masai warrior is romance at its most exotic." - Urban Cinefile
