I have admired Ben Kingsley ever since I saw GANDHI , and have followed his career with curiosity . Kingsley is the classic " character actor " , rather short and ethnic - looking and seldom cast in the lead therefore . ( Tom Cruise , also short , is the exception to the rule . ) Kingsley is so outstanding a performer , he makes his portrayals look easy , which I observe of just a handful of actors . PASCALI ' S ISLAND is terrific - - nostalgic , poignant , exquisitely filmed and acted . I got to see Helen Mirren for the second time ( I ' d previously seen her in THE MOSQUITO COAST ) and I was plenty surprised to see her in the buff . The film addresses the history of the Ottoman Empire ( now Turkey ) at the time of World War One , about which young people know lamentably little .
Review of Pascali's Island
