Before India gained its independence from Britain in 1947, one last viceroy was dispatched to oversee the peaceful transition: Lord Mountbatten (Hugh Bonneville) and his wife (Gillian Anderson). However, the mix of religious cultures and political machinations resulted in one of the country’s great tragedies. This is a fascinating epic that’s presented with long, dry debates and a trite romance that’s supposed to add heart. The locale is impressive and the scope is grand, but there’s too much effort to present all sides of the issues. It’s essentially dull until the final post-independence sequence, which brings the full effect of the tragedy to the fore. Only true history buffs are liable to be entertained.
(2 / 5)