Water (2005 film)
Water | |
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B.R. Films (India) | |
Release date |
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Running time | 114 minutes |
Countries | Canada United States India |
Languages | Hindi[1] English |
Box office | $10.4 million[2] |
Water (
Water is a dark introspect into the tales of rural Indian widows in the 1940s and covers controversial subjects such as child marriage, misogyny and ostracism.[3] The film premiered at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was honoured with the Opening Night Gala, and was released across Canada in November of that year.[4] It was first released in India on 9 March 2007.[5]
The film stars
In 2008, inspired by the film, Dilip Mehta directed a documentary, The Forgotten Woman about widows in India. The film was also written by Deepa Mehta.[7]
Water was announced as Canada's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 79th Academy Awards, it was nominated, but it did not win.
Plot
In 1938
Shakuntala (Seema Biswas) is perhaps the most enigmatic of the women. Attractive, witty and sharp, she is also one of the few widows who can read. She exudes enough anger that even Madhumati leaves her alone. Shakuntala is caught between being a God-fearing, devout Hindu, and her hatred of being a widow. She seeks the counsel of Sadananda (Kulbhushan Kharbanda), a priest, who makes her aware of her unjust and unholy situation. She becomes attached to Chuyia upon her arrival at the ashram.
Chuyia is convinced that her stay is a temporary one and that her mother will come to take her away but quickly adapts to her new life. She befriends Kalyani, and witnesses Kalyani's budding romance with Narayan (
Her plan is disrupted when Chuyia accidentally reveals their affair to Madhumati. Enraged at losing a source of income and afraid of the social disgrace, Madhumati locks Kalyani up. Much to everyone's surprise, the God-fearing Shakuntala lets Kalyani out to go meet Narayan, who ferries her across the river to take her to his home. However, when Kalyani recognizes Narayan's bungalow, she realizes that Narayan is the son of one of the men whom she has been pimped out to. In shock, she demands that he take her back. Narayan confronts his father, learning the reason for Kalyani's actions. Disgusted, he decides to walk out on his father and join Mahatma Gandhi (Mohan Jhangiani). He arrives at the ashram to take Kalyani with him, only to find that Kalyani has drowned herself.
Madhumati sends Chuyia away to be prostituted as a replacement for Kalyani. Shakuntala finds out and tries to prevent the worst, but she is too late. When Shakuntala finds Chuyia, Chuyia is deeply traumatized and catatonic. Cradling Chuyia, Shakuntala spends the night on the shores of the river. Walking through town with Chuyia in her arms, she hears talk of Gandhi speaking at the train station, ready to leave town. She follows the crowd to receive his blessing. As the train departs, in an act of desperation Shakuntala runs alongside the train, asking people to take Chuyia with them. She spots Narayan on the train and hands Chuyia over to him. The train departs, carrying Chuyia away while leaving the teary-eyed Shakuntala behind.
Cast
- Seema Biswas as Shakuntala/Gyanvati Twins (double role)
- Lisa Ray as Kalyani
- John Abrahamas Narayan
- Waheeda Rehman as Bhagavati, Narayan's Mother
- Sarala Kariyawasam as Chuyia[8]
- Buddhi Wickrama as Baba
- Ronica Sajnani as Kunti
- Manorama as Madhumati
- Rishma Malik as Snehalata
- Vidula Javalgekar as Patiraji (auntie)
- Daya Alwis as Saduram
- Raghuvir Yadavas Gulabi
- Vinay Pathak as Rabindra
- Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Sadananda
- Gerson Da Cunhaas Seth Dwarkanath
- Iranganie Serasinghe as Mother-in-Law
- Mohan Jhangiani as Mahatma Gandhi
- Sanoja Bibile as Woman Bather
Production
Water is a co-production between Canada, India[9] and the United States.[10] The film was shot twice with the same (bilingual) actors, once in Hindi, once in English.[citation needed]
Soundtrack
Release
The film debuted on 8 September 2005 at the Toronto International Film Festival. After several controversies surrounding the film in India, the Indian censor boards cleared the film with a "U" certificate. It was released in India on 9 March 2007.[11]
Reception
Box office
During Sri Lanka screening, the film collected Rs. 42 million for its 38 days screening.[12]
Critical response
Water received mostly positive reviews. On
The film received high praise from Kevin Thomas, writing in the Los Angeles Times:
For all her impassioned commitment as a filmmaker, Mehta never preaches but instead tells a story of intertwining strands in a wholly compelling manner. Water, set in the British colonial India of 1938, is as beautiful as it is harrowing, its idyllic setting beside the sacred Ganges River contrasting with the widows' oppressive existence as outcasts. The film seethes with anger over their plight yet never judges, and possesses a lyrical, poetical quality. Just like the Ganges, life goes on flowing, no matter what. Mehta sees her people in the round, entrapped and blinded by a cruel and outmoded custom dictated by ancient religious texts but sustained more often by a family's desire to relieve itself of the economic burden of supporting widows. As a result, she is able to inject considerable humor in her stunningly perceptive and beautifully structured narrative. Water emerges as a film of extraordinary richness and complexity.[15]
Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times selected Water as NYT Critics' Pick, calling it "exquisite": "Serene on the surface yet roiling underneath, the film neatly parallels the plight of widows under Hindu fundamentalism to that of India under British colonialism".[16]
Roger Ebert of Chicago Sun-Times said: "The film is lovely in the way Satyajit Ray's films are lovely and the best elements of Water involve the young girl and the experiences seen through her eyes. I would have been content if the entire film had been her story" and gave it three stars out of four.[17] Carrie Rickey of The Philadelphia Inquirer also praises Mehta's work on the trilogy saying that "profound, passionate and overflowing with incomparable beauty, Water, like the prior two films in director Deepa Mehta's "Elements" trilogy, celebrates the lives of women who resist marginalisation by Indian society".[citation needed]
In December 2005, it was named to the Toronto International Film Festival's annual Canada's Top Ten list of the year's best Canadian films.[18]
Accolades
Date of ceremony | Award | Category | Recipients | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
25 February 2007 | 79th Academy Awards | Best Foreign Language Film (Canada) |
Deepa Mehta | Nominated |
13 March 2006 | Genie Awards or Canadian Screen Awards | Best Motion Picture | David Hamilton | Nominated |
Best Director |
Deepa Mehta | Nominated | ||
Best Actress | Seema Biswas[19] | Won | ||
Best Art and Production Design |
Dilip Mehta | Nominated | ||
Best Cinematography |
Giles Nuttgens | Won | ||
Best Screenplay |
Deepa Mehta | Nominated | ||
Best Film Editing |
Colin Monie | Nominated | ||
Best Original Score |
Mychael Danna | Won | ||
17 February 2006 | Bangkok International Film Festival | Best Golden Kinnaree Film[20] | Deepa Mehta | Won |
20 January 2007 | Broadcast Film Critics |
Best Foreign Language Film | Deepa Mehta | Nominated |
17 December 2007 | Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association |
Best Foreign Language Film | Deepa Mehta | Nominated |
23 June 2007 | Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists |
Best Non-European Director | Deepa Mehta | Nominated |
9 January 2007 | National Board of Review | Top 5 Foreign Language Films
|
Deepa Mehta | Won |
NBR Freedom of Expression Awards | Deepa Mehta (shared with Oliver Stone for World Trade Center) | Won | ||
11 December 2006 | New York Film Critics Online | Top 10 Films | Deepa Mehta | Won |
NYFCO Humanitarian Award | Deepa Mehta | Won | ||
14 October 2006 |
Oslo Films from the South Festival |
Best Silver Mirror Feature Film |
Deepa Mehta | Won |
20 March 2006 | San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival |
Best Narrative Audience Award | Deepa Mehta | Won |
17 December 2006 | Satellite Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | Deepa Mehta | Nominated |
21 October 2005 | Valladolid International Film Festival | Best Youth Jury Film – In Competition | Deepa Mehta | Won |
Best Golden Spike Film – In Competition | Deepa Mehta | Nominated | ||
7 February 2006 | Vancouver Film Critics Circle | Best Canadian director | Deepa Mehta | Won |
Best Canadian Actress | Lisa Ray | Won | ||
10 March 2007 | Young Artist Awards
|
Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film | Sarala Kariyawasam | Won |
Best International Family Feature Film | Deepa Mehta | Won |
Controversies
Mehta had originally intended to direct Water in February 2000, with the actors
The resulting tensions and economic setbacks led to several years of struggle as Mehta was eventually forced to film Water in Sri Lanka, rather than in India.[21] Finally Mehta was able to make the film, but with a new cast and under a false title (River Moon) in 2003. The struggle to make the film was detailed by Mehta's daughter, Devyani Saltzman, in a non-fiction book, Shooting Water: A Mother-Daughter Journey and the Making of the Film.[21]
See also
- List of submissions to the 79th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Canadian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of artistic depictions of Mahatma Gandhi
References
- ^ The film was shot twice with the same (bilingual) actors, once in Hindi, once in English.
- ^ Water at Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
- ^ "'Water' at Majestic Cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
- ^ "Water opens Toronto Film Festival". 9 September 2005. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ "Oscar-nominated film "Water" released in India 7 years after protests shut down filming". Iht.com. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Rahman ready for Lord of the Rings". Rediff.com. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ Nathan Lee (7 August 2008). "Stigmatized by Society". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ "'Water' takes Sarala to international heights". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
- ^ "Water". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
- ^ "Water (2005)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ "Deepa Mehta impresses with Water". Rediff.com. 9 March 2007.
- ^ "'Water' in a record flow". Sunday times. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ^ "Water". Rotten Tomatoes. 25 September 2006.
- ^ "Water". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ Thomas, Kevin (2006). "Movie Review: 'Water'", Los Angeles Times, 28 April 2006. Retrieved 27 February 2010. Archived 12 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (28 April 2006). "Movie Review: Water (2005): NYT Critics' Pick". The New York Times.
- ^ "Water-2006". Roger Ebert. Chicago Sun-Times. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2006.
- ^ "Topping the list: Canada's cinematic achievements". National Post, 14 December 2005.
- ^ Utpal Borpujari (2005). "Seema Biswas wins top Canadian film award for Water". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 17 March 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2006.
- ^ Patrick Frater (26 February 2006). "Water' sweeps over Bangkok fest". Variety. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ a b c Jasmine Yuen-Carrucan. "The Politics of Deepa Mehta's Water". Retrieved 8 May 2006.
- ^ "'Water' shooting stopped again, Mehta 'asked to leave Varanasi'". The Hindu. The Hindu Group. 6 February 2000. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
Bibliography
- Saltzman, Devyani (2006). Shooting Water: A Mother-daughter Journey and the Making of a Film. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-400102-6.
- Displacing Androcracy: Cosmopolitan Partnerships in Bapsi Sidhwa's Water
External links
- Water at Rotten Tomatoes
- Water at Box Office Mojo
- Water at IMDb
- Water at Metacritic