Maya (Mia Hansen-Love, 2018): France

Reviewed by Gloria Kaye. Viewed at the 2019 Santa Barbara International Film Festival

This romantic adventure was filled with incredible cinematography. At times I felt like I was viewing a travelogue. Maya was a young woman who fell in love with a 30 something year old journalist.

Gabriel, the journalist, had been a hostage when we are first introduced to him. Newly freed, he is returning to Paris as a traumatized hero. As part of his recovery, he wants to reunite with his East Indian godfather. We meet Maya at this time. Maya is his godfather‘s daughter. She eventually travels throughout India with Gabriel, and they become lovers.

The beautiful cinematography is the highlight of the film. If the film were not named Maya, I would wonder about the storyline. In the end, Gabriel rejects Maya and they go their separate ways. It is clear that Gabriel’s first love is his journalism. He has already left two other women to pursue his career.

I would recommend this film if the viewer would enjoy footage of remote places in India. I personally had no idea there were so many beaches in India.

Subplots include an examination of the decline of the pristine nature of the countryside, as developers attempt to create a more hospitable environment for tourists. Another subplot had to do with Gabriel and his relationship with his mother. When Gabriel was seven, his mother fell in love and left Gabriel and his father. They have reconciled, and Gabriel visits his Caucasian mother in a small Indian village, where she teaches underserved children.

I would recommend this film if you were interested in cinematography and superb footage of India. Otherwise, the film falls short and a good book would be more interesting.