Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Patrick Swayze | ... | Max Lowe | |
Om Puri | ... | Hazari Pal | |
Pauline Collins | ... | Joan Bethel | |
Shabana Azmi | ... | Kamla H. Pal | |
Ayesha Dharker | ... | Amrita H. Pal | |
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Santu Chowdhury | ... | Shambu H. Pal |
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Imran Badsah Khan | ... | Manooj H. Pal |
Art Malik | ... | Ashok Ghatak | |
Nabil Shaban | ... | Anouar | |
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Debatosh Ghosh | ... | Ram Chander |
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Suneeta Sengupta | ... | Poomina |
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Mansi Upadhyay | ... | Meeta |
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Shyamanand Jalan | ... | Ghatak - Godfather |
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Shyamal Sengupta | ... | Gangooly - Con man |
Rudraprasad Sengupta | ... | Chomotkar |
Independent of each other, the Pal family - parents Hazari and Kamla, and their three offspring Amrita, Shambu and Manooj - and Max Lowe arrive in Calcutta, their initial dealings there being less than positive. After losing their farm in the nearby countryside to the "money lender", the Pals are in the city in search of a better life, especially in wanting to build a dowry for Amrita who is now of marrying age. Max, a Houston based surgeon who fell into the career as a matter of family obligation, quit his job unable to cope with the emotional toll especially of losing patients, and has come to Calcutta in search of spiritual enlightenment. Their lives converge by chance in the slum neighborhood nicknamed the City of Joy, most specifically at the makeshift City of Joy Clinic and School opened and operated by Irishwoman Joy Bethel who came to Calcutta on a whim and never left. While the Pals eventual settle in the City of Joy, Joy herself tries to convince Max to provide his much ... Written by Huggo
I think City of Joy is one of those films you either do or don't connect with. It's a study of growth, of friendship, of acceptance. It's a coming-of-age film. It's a study of how similar humans everywhere are in spite of vast cultural differences. It's a well-shot location piece. It's a character study. It's an action film, in its own way. Patrick Swayze and Om Puri put their hearts into their roles. The supporting cast is interesting and effective. The script has drama and emotional depth.
Although the plot certainly can't claim absolute originality, director Joffé's nuanced look at the cultural milieu and the care with which he portrays the characters' relationships and internal struggles make this a worthwhile, enjoyable film.
"Roadhouse" and "Dirty Dancing" were both lots of fun, but for me this is Patrick Swayze's best performance, and one of my favorite films of its kind.