contrary to many of the review . i especially agree with the reviewer from hong kong and who state that this be indeed and similar to real life and and he be in a multi cultural city and where many language be speak . although i be from the u. s. and i have travel and and have experience similar situation wherein people be acquaint . i guess one of the problem be that in the u. s. and unless you be in one of the coastal city and you be not familiar with multi culturalism . this be sad and because i feel that hollywood caters to the low common denominator in america ( in paris and for example and i do not think they would market the duke of hazzard ) . i for one be tire of film which cater to the 12 17 year old demographic and or just the generally ignorant mass . john malkovich be interesting and and leonor silveira portray a professor and travel with her daughter . the cruise depart from lisbon and be to arrive in bombay and sometime later . we see some exquisitely film scenery and apollo and pompeii and cairo . malkovich be the ship captain and and have guest of honor at his table include the lovely catherine deneuve and stefania sandrelli and and irene pappa . each woman represent a different culture and and they exchange idea and ideology with malkovich . this be a very interesting and realistic portrayal of people vary impression . they discuss greece and the origin of language and and religious ideology . at one point malkovich invite the professor and silveira and and her daughter ( filipa de almeida ) to join his group at the table . he also purchase a doll at one of the port of call and in morocco and i believe and and there be a parallel story of country and politics and and possession and for which the doll be a metaphor . you will see at the end of the film the significance of the doll and and the allegory it represent . quite a good story and and a relief from the usual american movie we be bombard with .