This film is as layered as they come. It's one of those films that will take multiple viewings to truly appreciate and begin to comprehend. I would almost consider it a silent movie, as there is very sparse dialogue and music sets the tone for a lot of the plot points, for instance, Mr. Kinsky creating more rhythm-based music to please his love, Shandurai. Roger Ebert dismisses it as a white man's wet dream, to make love to a beautiful black woman, and although I see the argument in that statement, I believe it is wrong. I think it is the MORAL choices that need to be focused on. Just imagine, what if it were a white woman or a black man in the roles? It would have still been filmed with Bertolucci's signature sensuality (see Last Tango In Paris or The Dreamers). So I, for one, thought that this was a beautifully lyrical film that many critics just didn't "get". Too bad for them.