The Deceivers - The Merchant Ivory Collection
by Nicholas Meyer
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Helena Michell, Keith Michell, Pierce Brosnan, Saeed Jaffrey, Shashi KapoorDirector: Nicholas Meyer
Brand: Image Entertainment
Cinematographer: Walter Lassally
Producer: Ismail Merchant
Producer: Leon Falk
Producer: Michael White
Producer: Tim Van Rellim
Writer: John Masters
Writer: Michael Hirst
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Special Edition, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 102 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-01-18
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Merchant Ivory
Movie Reviews of The Deceivers - The Merchant Ivory Collection
Movie Review: Orientalism and the Thug Cult
Summary: 4 Stars
"The romance and the fiction of thuggee are seductive, but they are not part of the truth, only serving a European desire for India to be exotic, mysterious and dangerous. It was orientalism, the myth of the east, and surely should have died long ago.".(Kevin Rushby, Children of Kali, 2002).
To see "The Deceivers", having read Rushby's book, that correctly points out how the criminal myth never existed is fascinating. The movie is directly derived from John Master's 1952 novel, which is in its own an engrossing read. So the story is there, complicated, with a moral, or absence of moral and many subplots to explore. The film is a Merchan-Ivory production so the best non-Indian filmography on India that it was possible to get in the 1980's, the actors are all very good because the Brits are played by Brits and the Indians by Indians.
However, it must be seen as an imaginary story and not as the truth. The Thugs as such, a cult based on the goddess Kali never existed. Their existence was invented by the British Raj probably with the intent of repressing banditry in India, and further propagated by the nineteenth century novelist such as Sue, Meadows, Salgari.
The original British soldier on which William Savage, the story's hero is based is William Henry Sleeman a famous "Thug exterminator" of the first part of the nineteenth century, who lived in India for many years and had many Indian bandits jailed and killed.
If you are interested in the Kali cult and love movies, see "Karan Arjun" a Bollywood movie on Kali cult and reincarnation that entertains and makes you touch the essence of this religeous practice.
One point that makes the movie particularly intrigant is the fascination of Willam Savage with the concept of ritual killing, that never really leaves him also at the end of the story. He is like a controlled serial killer, who can live his true nature only outside his "civilization", in the natural environment of the colonial country.
This is a very good movie and an interesting example of "Orientalism" (E.Said). I suggest to view it with some historical backround, a touch of irony and great enjoyment of the characters (especially the Indians), costumes and locations.
Summary of The Deceivers - The Merchant Ivory Collection
India, 1825: the country is being ravaged by the Thugees, cult members also known as "The Deceivers," who commit robbery and ritualistic murder. Appalled by their activities, English Captain William Savage undertakes a hazardous task: in disguise he will infiltrate their ranks. He is at constant risk of betrayal and vengeance and undergoes a disturbing psychological transformation as he experiences the cult's bloodlust firsthand. Starring Pierce Brosnan and stunningly photographed by Walter Lassally, The Deceivers is a gripping adventure-reportedly based on a true story-that charts one man's daring exploits.Action & Adventure DVD Video
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