1947 Earth
|
Our Price: $39.92 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $29.19 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of 1947 Earth
Movie Review: Great flick for Bollywood enthusiasts
Summary: 5 Stars
I've seen many bollywood films and for that reason I was intrigued by the controversy sparked by the entire Deepa Mehta trilogy (Fire, Earth, and Water). After having seen all three movies I can honestly say that Earth was by far the best of the three. The acting was superb and the story was so much more tragic and heart wrenching than the other two films.Movie Review: EARTH Review
Summary: 5 Stars
EARTH, like FIRE and WATER, is a powerful and rewarding film that explores the social and political history of India. Together, these films are a body of work that deserves a wider audience than the foreign films section of the local DVD library.Movie Review: A heartbreaking and powerful film.
Summary: 4 Stars
There have been complaints in reviews here about the lack of background information in this film on the different religions. However, keep in mind that the film was made for Inidan audiences who it must be assumed already knew all that information. The rest of us will just have to do a bit of research.
For instance, Lenny-baby's family was Parsee and therefore neutral in the conflict between Muslim, Hindu and Sikh. Who were the Parsees? They were and are modern Zoroastrians. Their ancestors fled from Persia to India after the conquest of Persia by the Arabs in the 8th century.
Zoroastrianism is monotheistic like Islam and Christianity. It was once a world-class religion, but now it is almost extinct. In India, the Parsees are so few that their presence was never regarded as a threat by any of the other factions.
Regardless, the story is searing and at times hard to take. The fate of the two lovers is especially cruel.
It is interesting to see Amir Khan assay a role that is somewhat unusual for him and yet not all that unusual. He is charming, he is winning as ever and yet... In a way, his character defines what the movie tries to say about people and friendship and betrayal and hatred.
Throughout the movie, we expect from him exactly what little Lenny-baby expects. If it were otherwise, the ending would not have the impact it does. It was an inspired bit of casting.
And the little actress playing Lenny-baby, she is absolutely remarkable; one of the truest children I've ever seen on screen. She never hits a false note.
I am not sure if I could watch this movie again, but I do recommend that it be seen at least once. You will never forget it. I won't. Once is enough.
Movie Review: Another raw element
Summary: 4 Stars
"Earth" is a totally different movie to "Fire" but just as controversial. While "Fire" touches on forbidden relationships and the dominance of men, "Earth" explores religion, an incendiary topic at the best of times.
Set in Lahore, India in 1947, this is a story of friendship, love, jealousy, betrayal, politics and ethnic cleansing. The main character is a young disabled Parsee girl named Lenny, who lives a comfortable life with her wealthy parents. Her nanny Shanta (Nandita Das, who also stars in Fire) is Hindu, and together with Lenny, enjoys the company of a diverse group of friends, including two Muslims, another Hindu and a Sikh.
Shanta falls in love with Hasan (Rahul Khanna) a peaceful, intelligent Muslim masseur, despite the affection of Dil Navez, known as "Ice Candy Man" (Aamir Khan).
The partition of India splits the group wide apart, and in the ethnic violence following independence, Dil Navez' sisters are brutally butchered. Turning to Shanta for support and love, his marriage proposal is rebuffed, and the final straw comes when he watches an intimate act between Shanta and Hasan.
The violence eventually reaches Lenny's household, as an angry Muslim mob descends on the property looking for Hindus, and she learns the hard way that even your friends can betray you under the right circumstances.
This movie graphically depicts the violence of ethnic cleansing, the horror of which overshadows the beauty of romance, the closeness of friendship and the happiness of families.
Well directed and acted, this movie may bring tears to the eyes of even the most jaded viewers.
Amanda Richards, December 30, 2004
Movie Review: Beauty and the Beast Within
Summary: 4 Stars
Writer/director Deepa Mehta is a brave and talented woman. In WATER (my idea of a great film), she risked angering her own people. Here she dares to depict the horrific events that accompanied Indian/Pakistani independence from England in August 1947.
I found this movie tense watching cuz I know of the bloodbath about to happen.
The slow-burning story moves from the friendly (perhaps, too idyllic) world of intermingling religions to blood-thirsty mobs -- as seen from the POV of a young Parsi girl living in the Moslem city of Lahore -- whose nanny (played by the absolutely gorgeous Nandita Das) is a Hindu -- who nevertheless attracts the attention of two young Moslem men -- one thoughtful (played by soulful Rahul Khanna) -- the other passionate (well played by Indian superstar Aamir Khan -- a real-life Moslem).
The story uses this small mixed-religious group of friends to epitomize the entire sub-Continent in a not-to-subtle way. But, more annoying for me, I sensed that the love triangle was intended to be an analog as well. But, it only worked on a superficial layer... or maybe it was just a love story for the groundlings.
Still, the film provides insight into that fracturing society. But, inevitably, it can't provide the insight or antidote for our virulent "animal souls" (who can?). So the story builds -- then ends rather abruptly.
It helps, once again, that director Deepa Mehta and Giles Nuttgens have superb cinematic eyes. It's a beautiful, restful film to look at while successfully exposing the ugliness when necessary.