Ismail Merchant, best known as a producer for his work with director James Ivory (including Howards End and A Room With a View), takes possession of the director's chair in this drama. In 1954, seven years after India has gained independence from Great Britain, many Indians still feel like second-class citizens in their own country, as the nation's sovereignty has not immediately erased the perception that the British are superior to the Indian-born natives. Such a woman is Cotton Mary (Madhur
Jaffrey), who works as a nurse for Lily Macintosh (Greta Scacchi), the wife of a BBC correspondent. Mary claims she's the daughter of a British regiment officer (although she has no firm evidence), and she sees herself as more British than Indian. While she takes offense at racist comments, she often states her belief that most of her people are unclean and dishonest, and her personal philosophy is informed by Christianity as much as the Hindu teachings with which she was raised. When Lily gives birth prematurely, Mary has to find a wet nurse for the child, and she uses this to win greater trust and confidence from Lily; in time, Mary persuades Lily to fire Abraham (Prayag Raaj), the household's loyal but proudly Indian cook, while she hides the fact that her sister Blossom (Neena Gupta) is nursing Lily's child. When not acting, Madhur Jaffrey is an acclaimed Indian chef and author, who has written a series of books on Indian cuisine; her daughter, Sakina Jaffrey, also appears in the film. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Engrossing from the first frame and written with admirable skill and insight by Alexandra Viets, Cotton Mary is a milestone for Merchant Ivory and a pleasure for the company's admirers.
Cotton Mary is terminally marred by good taste; and melodrama is like the Star-Kist commercial: people don't want tuna with good taste; they want tuna that tastes good.
Artist: Alicia Keys
Song: If I Ain't Got You
Album: Diary Of Alicia Keys
I always thought this song was a remake, but she said in an interview she wrote the song herself. If I haven't done it before, I pronounce Alicia Keys to be my wife.
I've been bored on my Spring Break. During the day I do my schoolwork (I have
a paper to do) and nighttime I hang out with friends who also got nothing to do during the day. We got drunk Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights and we took a break last night to watch some movies, Malibu's Most Wanted and Cotton Mary (only God knows why my friend rented that movie).
I've been going to the gym more, trying to get some abs here. But today worked out for 3 hours on my legs. I f only I had a wheelchair......
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