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IMDbPro

City of Joy

  • 19921992
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 12m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
5.2K
YOUR RATING
City of Joy (1992)
text os
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
40 Photos
  • Drama
An American doctor, a British nurse and an illiterate Indian farmer join together to transform a Calcutta ghetto in this uplifting, inspirational movie starring Patrick Swayze and Pauline Co... Read allAn American doctor, a British nurse and an illiterate Indian farmer join together to transform a Calcutta ghetto in this uplifting, inspirational movie starring Patrick Swayze and Pauline Collins.An American doctor, a British nurse and an illiterate Indian farmer join together to transform a Calcutta ghetto in this uplifting, inspirational movie starring Patrick Swayze and Pauline Collins.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
5.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Roland Joffé
  • Writers
    • Dominique Lapierre(book)
    • Mark Medoff(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Patrick Swayze
    • Pauline Collins
    • Om Puri
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roland Joffé
  • Writers
    • Dominique Lapierre(book)
    • Mark Medoff(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Patrick Swayze
    • Pauline Collins
    • Om Puri
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 44User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    City of Joy
    Trailer 2:22
    City of Joy

    Photos40

    Patrick Swayze and Om Puri in City of Joy (1992)
    Shabana Azmi in City of Joy (1992)
    Patrick Swayze in City of Joy (1992)
    City of Joy (1992)
    City of Joy (1992)
    Patrick Swayze and Om Puri in City of Joy (1992)
    Pauline Collins and Roland Joffé in City of Joy (1992)
    1 sheet movie poster
    Quad Movie Poster, 40 x 30
    City of Joy (1992)
    City of Joy (1992)
    City of Joy (1992)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Patrick Swayze
    Patrick Swayze
    • Max Loweas Max Lowe
    Pauline Collins
    Pauline Collins
    • Joan Bethelas Joan Bethel
    Om Puri
    Om Puri
    • Hazari Palas Hazari Pal
    Shabana Azmi
    Shabana Azmi
    • Kamla H. Palas Kamla H. Pal
    Ayesha Dharker
    Ayesha Dharker
    • Amrita H. Palas Amrita H. Pal
    Santu Chowdhury
    • Shambu H. Palas Shambu H. Pal
    Imran Badsah Khan
    • Manooj H. Palas Manooj H. Pal
    Art Malik
    Art Malik
    • Ashok Ghatakas Ashok Ghatak
    Nabil Shaban
    Nabil Shaban
    • Anouaras Anouar
    Debatosh Ghosh
    • Ram Chanderas Ram Chander
    Suneeta Sengupta
    • Poominaas Poomina
    Mansi Upadhyay
    Mansi Upadhyay
    • Meetaas Meeta
    Shyamanand Jalan
    • Ghatak - Godfatheras Ghatak - Godfather
    Shyamal Sengupta
    • Gangooly - Con manas Gangooly - Con man
    Rudraprasad Sengupta
    Rudraprasad Sengupta
    • Chomotkaras Chomotkar
    Baroon Chakaborty
    • Saidas Said
    Masood Akhtar
    Masood Akhtar
    • Rassoulas Rassoul
    Loveleen Mishra
    Loveleen Mishra
    • Shantaas Shanta
    • Director
      • Roland Joffé
    • Writers
      • Dominique Lapierre(book)
      • Mark Medoff(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Amongst the problems that beset the production were fire-bombings, mass demonstrations, media criticism, accusations of murder, a skyrocketing budget that eventually settled at the twenty-seven million dollar mark, and Warner Brothers' 11th hour pullout that nearly bankrupted the producers.
    • Goofs
      The school girl in the rickshaw gets dropped daily to St. Xavier's School on Park Street - which is an all boys school.
    • Quotes

      Hasari Pal: All that is not given is lost.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: City of Joy/Proof/The Babe/Deep Cover/The Famine Within (1992)

    User reviews44

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Not like the book but a good story
    The movie is not bad. It is based on the book by the same name by Dominique Lapierre, and if my understanding is right has the author's blessings. The characters even have similar if not same names but it is not the same story. However it is true to the spirit in which the book was written.

    Another interesting comparison with the book is that just like the movie, the book is as controversial, especially in India and among middle class Indians and Indians abroad. Indians do not like to speak about their slums to foreigners and do not like foreigners to speak about them by themselves. Rich and middle-class Indians who make about one-fourth of the country are the most influential people in the country and make the interlocutors with the Western world. I know because I am one of them. If our country is our home, this is a skeleton in our closet. And because there is a skeleton in our closet, we try not to step into it and do not let other and hate those who do step in when we are not looking. The controversy is an indication that lot stuff in the movie is actually worth seeing.

    Also it is not unusual for a poor man in India to choose to die with dignity than live in shame, Indian girls do flirt even if it is 'untraditional' and there are people who try to live by exploiting the poor, people who most others will call cruel.

    The movie could have done a better job capturing the fact that western ideas can affect the way some people in India behave just as Indian ideas make some westerners reformulate their ideas and concepts about life. We can see it here, but this is better captured in the book

    So those who do not like the movie try to read the book and those who liked the movie will definitely enjoy the book. As for me, stories of the resilience of Indian slum dwellers only make me more proud to be an Indian.
    helpful•29
    2
    • abhi-9
    • Apr 11, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 17, 1992 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Zevk Şehri
    • Filming locations
      • Calcutta, West Bengal, India
    • Production companies
      • Allied Filmmakers
      • Lightmotive
      • Pricel
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $27,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,683,921
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,405,890
      • Apr 19, 1992
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,683,921
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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