How is Deepa Mehta's Fire/Earth/Water Trilogy?

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 13 Dec 2006, 23:04

This trilogy any good? Water was shown at the last EIFF but I didn't see it as I hadn't seen the previous two titles. I take it the stories are standalone?

Also which is the best DVD to get? Thanks.

the68monkey · Post by **the68monkey** » 14 Dec 2006, 00:28

I've only seen Water, so can only comment on that. I found it as simple story, in some ways naive, but quite beautifully filmed. The story centers around a child bride whose husband dies, resulting in her being turned over to a widow's refuge. The child must be about 8 or 9, at most, yet the Hindi law dictates that she must continue as only half-alive now that her husband is dead. Yes, it's dreadful. It's also set in a time where followers of Mohandas Gandhi are beginning to question and challenge the status quo.

What's equally interesting as the film is the controversy that surrounded its making. Apparently, Hindi fundamentalists came under the impression that Deepa Mehta was making an anti-Hindi statement, so they protested and had the film's production completely shut down in 2000. It took 5 years to get production going again, this time with a new cast and a new filming location. It was worth it, though. Good film.

I'd definitely recommend it, but don't expect to feel all warm and fuzzy after watching it.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 14 Dec 2006, 11:56

I've only seen Water, it was okay.

Anyway the best DVD of Water is probably the Canadian 2-discer, as it's packed with extras and has two versions of the film:- one which was shot in Hindi and one which was shot in English (sync-sound, NOT a dub).

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 14 Dec 2006, 19:27

Cheers Eva. I did not know that...

Time to visit Amazon.Ca... Deepdiscount.ca don't seem to have it.