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The Mystic Masseur

PG Released May 3, 2002 1h 57m Drama List
51% Tomatometer 65 Reviews 25% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
A former teacher (Aasif Mandvi) returns to Trinidad, marries a merchant's (Om Puri) daughter and completes a book about Hindu faith.
The Mystic Masseur

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Though pretty to look at, The Mystic Masseur is too slow-paced and lacks narrative tension.

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Critics Reviews

View All (65) Critics Reviews
Brandon Judell indieWire Maybe Mr. Merchant should just re-watch a few of the films he's so superbly produced. One thing James Ivory has never been afraid to be is vicious. Mar 8, 2019 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 3/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Eleanor Ringel Cater Atlanta Journal-Constitution A real clunker. A well-made, thoughtful, well-acted clunker, but a clunker nonetheless. Rated: D Nov 4, 2002 Full Review Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review Rated: 2/5 Aug 7, 2008 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 2.5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jul 2, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Set in the fifties in Trinidad, this film is about a frustrated writer who supports himself as a masseur. While films set in Trinidad are a rare breed, this film does little to make itself stand out. Mystic Masseur is an affectionate yet dull paced and weak film. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member This is an interesting character study. Nicely acted and beautifully shot. It is a little slow in parts but well worth seeing. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Typical merchant ivory as its slow but its still worth checking out. Mistrys accent is all over the plave but he isnt the main str Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I was pretty amazed at the accents in the movie but was expecting much more from a Merchant ivory movie.I am sure Naipaul's book would have been more interesting. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Not an overly interesting adaptation, it is a strange setting and story which is its main appeal, but the style makes it dull and the quirkiness is not enough to hide the generic storyline. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member A pretty solid interpretation of Naipaul's novel. Sadly, in interpreting it, some of the depth of the story was lost. The ending resonates far less than it should, and I don't remember the book being so... bland? Still a great story though. There's an added novelty for Trinis, who will undoubtedly get a kick out of seeing some of their favorite spots in parts of this film, lol. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Mystic Masseur

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis A former teacher (Aasif Mandvi) returns to Trinidad, marries a merchant's (Om Puri) daughter and completes a book about Hindu faith.
Director
Ismail Merchant
Producer
Richard Hawley, Nayeem Hafizka
Screenwriter
V.S. Naipaul, Caryl Phillips
Distributor
ThinkFilm
Production Co
Merchant Ivory Productions
Rating
PG (Mild Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 3, 2002, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Feb 25, 2003
Box Office (Gross USA)
$398.6K
Runtime
1h 57m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround