Selima und John (2003)

Selima und John: Directed by Guy Jenkin. With Jessica Alba, Brenda Blethyn, Hugh Dancy, Bob Hoskins. A young Englishman is sent to Malaysian Borneo in the 1930s to stay with a tribe as UK’s colonial representative. A local woman (J.Alba) helps him understand local tradition and language. He falls in love with her etc. despite the taboo.

“Liked this film a lot. A rework of the classic Romeo and Juliet impossible-love scenario, it managed to stand out from the crowd, not least because of the impressive cinematography (helped in no small part by the wonderful locales and the beautiful tribes people (The Iban). While never being earth-shattering, for a film to watch with a loved one (without being too girly) this is hard to top IMO. It shows the moral struggle of a man who has to choose between u0026#39;dutyu0026#39; and love. The arrogance and conditioning of British colonialism is dealt with well, as we struggled to impose our European values and God on peoples in far flung corners, and indeed it shows the irony that we struggled to retain it ourselves as the beauty of the place and people intoxicated our men (a few cads apart)u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWatch it with wifey/girlfriend/prospective mate”