Although the film takes liberties - the book makes it clear the warrior speaks neither English or German -- the question must be asked: why does a woman fall in love with a man she doesn't even know. It couldn't have been lust because it was clear he was an appalling lover initially at least. The cultures are so far apart. This is not just Africa vs Europe but rural Africa vs urban Europe. The film in no way explains how a person, probably educated and surely emancipated, would want to spend her live in the bush with a macho man with nothing but outstanding scenery to compensate. Living in a shared hut and sharing pools of water to wash. No wildlife, just goats and cattle; seemingly nothing to read, no one with whom to communicate except the odd visit to another woman in the town and a hostile pastor. It is so far from comprehensible that I viewed the film with increasing incredulity. Yes, the scenery was wonderful but African is so much more.

The movie is based on the book "The white Masai", and on the true life of Corinne Hofmann, the author of the book.She becomes attracted to a Masai man while on a trip to Kenya, and eventually moves in with him and marries him. This movie is about love, cultural differences and hard facts of life. It is very romantic but also heart stopping in the struggles for cultural understanding.The movie does not strictly follow the story of the book, but makes a good job of squeezing the essentials into a 2 hour movie. The tensions, the hardships etc, are well caught much thanks to good acting performances.I really miss a lot of information in the movie. E.g. how was her relation with other people in the village, especially with "Mama" in the same hut. Also there is often a lack of explaining what other people in the tribe thought of her actions. Some cultural differences are quite insufficiently covered, e.g. how her way to talk to other men contributed to the jealousy of her husband. Many of the hardships in the book are also left out in the movie.What is truly great about the movie and the story, is that her failures are not hidden. Its not a movie about that the native life in Africa is "so hard" for a sane westerner to live. The sacrifices made from both sides are vast, from their cultural positions and values, but still they are not sufficient to bridge the gap in so many issues.It is a really good movie. I recommend it to anyone. Ignore the other whining comments here. The movie does a good job, if not perfect, fitting the story into a 2 hour movie. The cultural differences are there to see and think about, even if some things were left out.

The White Masai (Swiss Title- Die Weisse Massai) Truly one of the best films I have seen in a long time. Based on the autobiography of Corinne Hofmann, a white Swedish woman who met, and coincidently fell in love, with a Masai tribe warrior, whilst on holiday in Africa, this film offers a beautiful insight into the diversity of African life.The film follows Carola's (Hofman's) life as a white European woman, immersed into a black African tribe. As an audience, we are able to depict the love that blossoms between Carola and Lemalian (a tribal warrior for the Masai), played by Jacky Ido, and the difficulties, fears and terrors that a contemporary Caucasian woman is forced to endure when exposed to such a diverse culture and way of life. The story follows her marriage, path of cultural understanding and the birth of her child.As the viewer we are introduced into the story through Carola's eyes, played by German actress, Nina Hoss, this allows the confusion that she undergoes to be translated to the audience. The sweeping cinematography used in The White Masai helps to develop the mood of the situations presented. At times of angst the audience is able to accurately develop an understanding for the circumstance. The film, also, allows an authentic insight into the lifestyle of an African tribe, one is able to distinguish and witness the diversities between western and traditional African tribal culture. Baring witness to such horrors as female circumcision, breach birth, hunting and malaria, Carola finds herself continually surprised by the life and rituals of the tribe. The contrast drawn between western society and the tribal communities is intense and is accurately portrayed through the film. Whilst I have not read Corinne Hofmann's autobiography, the high quality of acting and the constant reminder of the African landscape and society, leads one to assume that the portrayal is quite true to reality.Whilst we are exposed to the Masai lifestyle, the film fails to thoroughly communicate the difficulty and inner turmoil Carola is faced with when converting from white society to the Masai tribe, it instead, tends to romanticize the conversion. The film is also unsuccessful in realistically depicting the internal thoughts and emotions of Carola's character, when introduced to such a foreign lifestyle. This prevents the audience from truly entrapping themselves within the mind of the Carola and the situations she is faced with, thus forbidding us from experiencing the film to its full potential.The White Masai, is a deep and intriguing film, I strongly recommend it to anyone who is interested in sociology and diversity between cultures.

Excellent movie; just received a standing ovation at its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Good old-fashioned story-telling with the drama of severe to the point of seemingly unsurmountable cultural conflict wrought out by strong acting from the relatively unknown leads. When Carola, a Swiss woman (as pale,willowy and Teutonic as they make them) vacationing with her boyfriend Stefan, is smitten at first sight with Lemalian, a Masai warrior, she decides to follow her heart. As a viewer, one feels part of the scene, drawn into Carola's frame of mind, experiencing her alternate euphoric connection with Lemalian and the strain of coming to terms with a culture, and indeed, even a man, who, despite their love, is unlike what she is accustomed to.(A warning for the squeamish: there are several scenes of traditional Masai customs that, while not brutal, will at least make you cringe and avert.) The film is based on an autobiographical book that was a huge bestseller in Europe. While I haven't read the book and cannot vouch for the film's accuracy, its realistic tone is never in doubt. There are no saccharine contrivances about the culture gap or simplistic portrayals or any other false notes.In fact between the taut performances, sweeping cinematography of the Kenyan countryside, keenly observed detail of daily life and the pitch-perfect score, The White Masai almost has an epic feel to it.