Yes, it's beautiful; yes, the colors, backdrops, etc. hold up today, and to my mind best some of the CGI we've seen in recent years. What I found most intriguing though is Powell/Pressburger's treatment of British imperialism and the Church: indictments of the attempt to "civilise," "educate," "illuminate," etc. the so called dark world. Also of interest is that the church itself is no better or worse than all society: it has its madness, its greed, its authority, its subjection, its altruism, and so on.
Of course the only First Worlder able to assimilate into Third World society is the reprobate/alcoholic, but that speaks more to the damage of civility than the inherent weakness of the savages. Challenging convention, cinematically and politically, Powell and Pressburger were fearless.
Of course the only First Worlder able to assimilate into Third World society is the reprobate/alcoholic, but that speaks more to the damage of civility than the inherent weakness of the savages. Challenging convention, cinematically and politically, Powell and Pressburger were fearless.