I blogged awhile back about the imminent release of the last film in Deepa Mehta’s elemental trilogy, Water. The film, whose shooting was forced to relocate secretly to Sri Lanka, stars Lisa Ray (Bollywood/Hollywood), Seema Biswas (Bandit Queen), and Bollywood hearthrob (and Peta Spokesman) John Abraham. It is finally making its way through the film fest circuit, recently playing to a full house at the 30th Toronto International Film Festival, and appearing at Washington D.C.s recent SALTAF. The preview screenings, and the audiences reactions’ to the film must have been great because it turns out the film will be distributed in the in the U.S.by Fox Searchlight (MongrelMedia has Canadian distribution and is set to release the film on November 4), the house that distributed wildly successful Bend It Like Beckham. What does this mean for us, the audience? We’ll actually be able to see the movie without having to travel far and wide to find the one theater in our state showing it.
View the trailer for the film here. Incidentally, those of you lucky enough to have access to Canadian Bravo will have the opportunity to catch two special episodes of Scanning the Movies, which will focus on the making of Water with part one airing on October 28 and part two on November 4.
To me, when the closing credits flash “34 million widows in India (2001)” reads as, this isn’t restricted to Varanasi, as shown in the movie, but to a big chunk of that 34 million widows, hence implying that this is a nationwide problem that persists to this day.
what if i reinforced that this film is set in the 1930’s??? would that help in calming you all down? also, what if i told you the film was banned in india??? how do you feel about that? you all really are underestimating the viewers of this film. do you think someone with no background knowledge about india, or an actual interest in the country and culture would go out to watch this film? it’s not wrong for deepa metha to show one side of indian culture from years ago. shes shown us the modern culture in previous films and even if all her films arent 100% accurate, it does not mean that they teach us nothing at all. And the belief that the only one who can truly appreciate a film is someone who has been through the events and emotions personally is so wrong. Films are made to help those who are not in certain situations understand them better. im from afghanistan and how many movies have been made about modern afghanistan that dont depict the whole truth? Have you seen Osama? Kandahar? there are many images and events in those films that i could go and get upset about because “if its true in one case its true in all cases” as you guys believe. It doesnt work that way though, so get over it!
The movie is well made, no doubt. Satyajit Ray also had portrayed the very down trodden people in society, and how they fight to survive. Changes came in through the benevolence of Gandhiji. I have to say that in a land that is brimming over with jewels and wealth, it is sad that a whole section of the population goes with just rice, after working long hours in tedious jobs. Is that fair? Other countries are doing worse, but we are not comparing. Another issue: Deepa Mehta has brought forth this problem, is she doing anything to alleviate the misery of even 100 widows in similar plight?
The movie is well made, no doubt. Satyajit Ray also had portrayed the very down trodden people in society, and how they fight to survive. Changes came in through the benevolence of Gandhiji. I have to say that in a land that is brimming over with jewels and wealth, it is sad that a whole section of the population goes with just rice, after working long hours in tedious jobs. Is that fair? Other countries are doing worse, but we are not comparing. Another issue: Deepa Mehta has brought forth this problem, is she doing anything to alleviate the misery of even 100 widows in similar plight?
you don’t say…
Hey,exotic sells, and the stripper doesn’t accept rupees
deepa mehta, she is amazing,
I agree with Dorian. Deepa Mehta does not know anything about India and does not deserve to make movies on it.
She has used western money to bash India and show India in poor light. She should be banned from making movies on India.
Some of the flaws in the movie “Water”….
She should have done a better job in knowing how hindus make the swastika sign. She made swastika look like a Nazi sign. Which I found very offensive and stupid.
In the end of the movie, she quotes that there are about 34 million widows in India and most of them face the same kind of treatment. Well, to avoid legal implications she did quantify how many of the widows live like they have potrayed in the movie.
I have actually been to these widow houses in Mathura and Banaras, I have seen some of the similarities but Deepta Mehta went too far to make money out of this movie.
In the end, a very poorly researched movie. After watching this movie, I feel Deepa Mehta should never be allowed to visit India or even claim that she has any association with it.
Suggestion: She should use the profit made from this movie to convert herself into a white woman by going through some cosmetic surgery…….
SHAME ON DEEPA MEHTA!!!
Hello. After just watching Water I must tell you it was somewhat boring. The sound was horrible and in this day and age everthing about this movie/story could have been better. Better off to watch Howl’s Moving Castle. Yes you should be ashamed of this so-called movie. Deepta Mehta go and hide somewhere forever.
There’s nothing wrong with making movies about India’s social problems. The problem lies in the attitude of the person making the movie and what their intent is. Are you doing it because you really care about the problem and the people and the culture, or is there another reason? I haven’t seen the movie so can’t comment yet. However, I found Fire pretentious and trying too hard to be provocative. It didn’t come off naturally, in my opinion. Comparing Satyajit Ray with Deepa Mehta is way off the mark. In addition to the vast differences in their abilities as directors, Ray’s movies, even when they were being critical or portraying negative aspects of Indian society, always seemed to stem from a sense of love and respect and wonder for his country and culture. Maybe that’s because he chose to live in India, despite offers to go elsewhere and do movies in other languages, and had a more intimate and realistic view of Indian society. He showed things more naturally, and his films don’t come across as pretentious attempts to be provocative in a very artificial way or to cater to condescending Western views of India . His movies are moving, whilst I can’t say the same about Mehta’s, athough Earth had moments and was much better than Fire. But as someone else pointed out, maybe because that was based on an actual novel. I can’t get inside Deepa Mehta’s head and try to guess as to what her motivations are, but there does seem to be some sort of disdain and hubris involved. I think Mira Nair does a much better job, because she at least seems to have some really genuine affection. Mehta comes across as amateurish compared to Ray, for sure, and to Nair, who’s not always perfect but who, in my opinion, is a more subtle and accomplished director than Mehta.
A few years ago, an Indian made a documentary about the current plight of some (because there is also a good side) widows in Varanasi. Can’t remember the name of it. Not sure if it was any good or not.
hiiiiiii Hinduism is the only religion that regards the women highly . This is proved by the presence of numerous no. of Goddesses(such as Maha Lakshmi, Maha Kali who were given greater roles & responsilbilities than even Gods) , worshipped by hindus.All the religions including Christianity(look how Christian religious organisations reacted against Davinci Code) knows only to seggregate women.But Mehta knows only to show Hinduism in a poor light. One can ask why Mehta didnt release this film in india? The answer is the indian society has changed over the years to accomodate positive changes in it & she cant make the indians fool , who live there. So he chose the white people to give them false information about indian culture & give some boost to their ego that they are the only civilised & developed people in the world.
Just saw the movie along with a 7 year old girl. Interesting to hear her comments throughout regarding the other 7 year old widow Churiya portrayed in the movie.
Beautiful cinematography. OK story line. Acting – OK. The women who played the old widows had that down to a tee. I myself live amongst women much like that and they totally reminded me of them.
Can’t see what all the hoopla was about. Nothing controversial about this film nor was there anything in there that is not in line with some truth, even in modern day India. Don’t believe me? Visit Vrindavan. Or West Bengal.
John Abraham looked totally father f***ing HOT.