Cotton Mary (1999)

36% of critics liked it
(33 reviews)
38% of users liked it
(547 ratings)

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… More 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

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 5 min.
Directed By: Ismail Merchant, Madhur Jaffrey
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Mar 15, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Mar 6, 2001
Studio: Universal Studios Home Video

Critic Reviews

Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Cotton Mary, Ismail Merchant's second film as a director, puts some interestingly layered material into play, but he can't quite bring it together.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
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.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The film wants to make larger points, but succeeds only in being a story of derangement.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Nothing is expressed directly; only the curtains move, blowing in the subcontinent wind.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A heavy-handed melodrama whose title character is a symbol with a capital S.
Elvis Mitchell, New York Times
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.
Boo Allen, Denton Record Chronicle (TX)
Shows that Merchant couldn't direct.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
An Indian drama about the de-humanizing effects of class-warfare.
Chuck Rudolph, Matinee Magazine
There's a definite thrill to be gained from watching elements of genre trash invade such a film.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
Cotton Mary suffers from its lack of sympathetic characters, but it is still far from a disaster.