Water (2005/I)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Deepa Mehta

Writers:

Anurag Kashyap (dialogue)
Deepa Mehta (writer)

Release Date:

28 April 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

The film examines the plight of a group of widows forced into poverty at a temple in the holy city of Varanasi. It focuses on a relationship between one of the widows, who wants to escape the social restrictions imposed on widows, and a man who is from the highest caste and a follower of Mahatma Gandhi.

Plot Keywords:

Widow | India | Love | Mahatma Gandhi | Hindu

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 10 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Sarala	...	Chuyia
Buddhi Wickrama	...	Baba
Rinsly Weerarathne	...	Chuyia's Husband
Iranganie Serasinghe	...	Mother in Law (as Iranganee Serasinghe)
Hermantha Gamage	...	Barber
Ronica Sajnani	...	Kunti
Manorama	...	Madhumati (as Manorma)
Rishma Malik	...	Snehalata
Meera Biswas	...	Gyanvati
Vidula Javalgekar	...	Patiraji aka Auntie (as Dr. Vidula Javalgekar)
Seema Biswas	...	Shakuntala
Lisa Ray	...	Kalyani
Sanoja Bibile	...	Woman Bather
Dolly Ahluwalia	...	Upset Woman (as Dolly Ahluwalia Tewari)
John Abraham	...	Narayan

Also Known As:

River Moon (Canada: English title) (fake working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexual situations, and for brief drug use.

Runtime:

USA:117 min | Canada:114 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Argentina:117 min

Country:

Canada | India

Language:

Hindi

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia) | Australia:M | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Germany:12 | New Zealand:M | India:U | Norway:A | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Central Province, Sri Lanka

Company:

Deepa Mehta Films

Trivia:

Although Lisa Ray speaks Hindi, it is not her mother tongue. She worked on her diction to perfect the dialog.

Goofs:

Continuity: Kalyani's dog appears older in the scene in which it escapes than the next time it is shown.

Quotes:

Bhagavati: To talk about the truth is easy but to live by it is not.

Movie Connections:

References Pather Panchali (1955)

Soundtrack:

Chan Chan

Hooray, Deepa!

I saw this film on a Saturday afternoon in a theater with about 40 other people, split about 60/40, females to males. All ages although the younger viewers were mainly female. (late teens) Towards the end, as I was choking back tears and grabbing at Kleenex's, I looked around as there was total silence from the audience. It was AWED SILENCE, people! Every woman was bawling her eyes out and the men, without exception, were scrunched down into their collars, staring intently, holding back tears. This is Deepa's finest hour. She can retire now knowing she has made a worthy film. I would have voted 10 but there were a few technical glitches such as one moment were the color/lighting changed for about 3 seconds in an important scene and then snapped back. No blame to Deepa, though. I have sent several to see the film and all have raved about it, Can hardly wait to buy the DVD and see it again. The criticisms were political and should not be considered. Any film that criticizes aspects of a religion gets blasted from fundamentalists. This film is NOT a political statement. It is entertainment based on a political statement. It should not be missed. Brava!!!