Complete credited cast: | |||
Nora Swinburne | ... | The Mother | |
Esmond Knight | ... | The Father | |
Arthur Shields | ... | Mr. John | |
![]() |
Suprova Mukerjee | ... | Nan |
![]() |
Thomas E. Breen | ... | Capt. John |
Patricia Walters | ... | Harriet | |
Radha | ... | Melanie | |
Adrienne Corri | ... | Valerie | |
June Tripp | ... | Narrator (voice) (as June Hillman) |
Harriet, now an adult, narrates the story of her coming of age, growing up as a British national and as a daughter of a jute press manager in the Bengal region of India, they living in the big house on the banks of one of the holy rivers. At the time, she is the eldest of six siblings - five girls and one boy - with another one on the way and with her being significantly older than the rest of her siblings. As such, she spends much time with an honorary member of their family, a late teen - not quite an adult - named Valerie, also a British national and the daughter of the jute press owner. Another friend, who recently arrived home from her western schooling, is Melanie, the biracial daughter of British national Mr. John and his deceased Hindu wife. Both Mr. John and Melanie realize her difficult position, straddling both the Hindi and western cultures. Their small world is shaken up with the arrival of Captain John, Mr. John's cousin and an American ex-military man who has one ... Written by Huggo
My Rating : 9/10
Being an Indian I knew I would be able to connect to this on some level even though it's a different time and place. I found it on Scorsese's top 10 list for Criterion and it certainly piqued my interest.
Good film. Yes the acting is a bit wooden but I think you could overlook it as it's made in 1950's by a foreign director and just what he has managed is commendable. I absolutely loved the voiceover narration by the protagonist and the cinematography is gorgeous to boot.
Great experience. Recommended.