About halfway through the film, why does rich boyfriend start behaving so badly? I've pondered this and come to a simple answer: Because he can. He's not merely financially comfortable, he's so wealthy that his freedom is practically unbounded and he can get away with just about anything. Society (including the legal system) imposes very few limits on BF's conduct. His world-weary father seems nice to Trishna, but in a sort of condescending, noblesse oblige way. There's certainly no requirement that he be nice to her.
Unfortunately I don't think writer-director Winterbottom dramatizes any of this particularly well. During the 2nd half of the film, BF's badness is as inexplicable to us as it is to Trishna.
Nevertheless, I give the film credit for the romantic and fun first half. The music is wonderful, Trishna and BF are gorgeous (really) and the photography of India is better than a lot of western directors achieve.
Unfortunately I don't think writer-director Winterbottom dramatizes any of this particularly well. During the 2nd half of the film, BF's badness is as inexplicable to us as it is to Trishna.
Nevertheless, I give the film credit for the romantic and fun first half. The music is wonderful, Trishna and BF are gorgeous (really) and the photography of India is better than a lot of western directors achieve.