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Heat and Dust

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1:58

Heat and Dust

R

Released Aug 24, 1983

2h 13m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

14 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

When Anne (Julie Christie) discovers a long-forgotten family scandal involving her deceased grandmother, Olivia (Greta Scacchi), she decides to investigate further by traveling to the scene of the crime: India. In the 1920s, Olivia had been married to an official in the colonial government, but had an affair with an Indian man that resulted in an abortion and disgrace. By coincidence, Anne also finds herself conducting an affair with an Indian man, and faces similar social prejudice.

Gavin Millar

Sight & Sound

As a meditation on time, or colonialism, or national character, or on fashions in religion, philosophy, or medicine, or on the immutabilities of sex, Heat and Dust is as wise as it is unpretentious.

Mar 16, 2020

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

After 37 years, Heat and Dust stands up as an intelligent, ambitious, substantial picture - with flaws but also intriguing aspects that were perhaps not sufficiently understood at the time.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 8, 2019

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Bilge Ebiri

Village Voice

There's a whole lot of cathartic pain in Heat and Dust, if you know where to look for it.

Aug 29, 2017

Full Review

Kat Halstead

Common Sense Media

This won't be remembered as one of Merchant Ivory's classics, but it's an enticing story beautifully rendered nonetheless, and one that won Jhabvala a BAFTA for her adapted screenplay.

Sep 25, 2024

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David Bax

Battleship Pretension

Heat and Dust's mistake is the protraction of Anne's narrative into more than the framing device it logically ought to be.

Dec 11, 2020

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Molly Haskell

Vogue

In retreating from emotional involvement with its characters, Heat and Dust ultimately suffers from the gentility it parodies.

Feb 26, 2020

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Deborah Fain

This film was OK but definitely not their best. Liked the discussion of not so old colonialism and Raj. But too long and repetitive.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/24/24

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S R

Interesting to see a take on more complex social issues of the day through a reflective look back on ancestors who lived in India during complicated times. I expect the story didn't resonate with India, despite its intrigue that would appeal to some Westerners. NYT 1000 movies list and SLC DVD.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/03/25

Full Review

Audience Member

A typical "Ivoryan" movie fascinating , stylish and very very "colonially british". More than well directed and acted by the whole cast. Great Scacchi and bright Christie ! God save The King...and Gandhi too !

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great movie Beautiful movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/07/21

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Audience Member

Anyone who wants to say a word about British India should read Forster's A Passage to India carefully. The 1982 movie's view of India regresses greatly from Forster's 1922 view.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Maybe it just hasn't aged well, but I found the themes to be dated and mildly offensive. Julie Christie and Greta Scacchi are both luminous, and unfortunately not a single male in the cast is worthy of either of them.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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James Ivory

Director

Julie Christie

Anne (1982. In Satipur Town)

Greta Scacchi

Olivia, his wife (The Nineteen Twenties in the Civil Lines at Satipur)

Christopher Cazenove

Douglas Rivers, the Assistant Collector (The Nineteen Twenties in the Civil Lines at Satipur

Julian Glover

Olivia, his wife (The Nineteen Twenties in the Civil Lines at Satipur)

Susan Fleetwood

Mrs. Crawford, the Burra Mensahib (The Nineteen Twenties in the Civil Lines at Satipur)

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Heat and Dust: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

When Anne (Julie Christie) discovers a long-forgotten family scandal involving her deceased grandmother, Olivia (Greta Scacchi), she decides to investigate further by traveling to the scene of the crime: India. In the 1920s, Olivia had been married to an official in the colonial government, but had an affair with an Indian man that resulted in an abortion and disgrace. By coincidence, Anne also finds herself conducting an affair with an Indian man, and faces similar social prejudice.

Director: James Ivory
Producer: Ismail Merchant
Screenwriter: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Distributor: Universal Classics
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 24, 1983, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 1, 2017
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $19.9K
Runtime: 2h 13m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby

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