It's 1938 in India. We first see the young Chuyia in a cart where a man, who appears to be sick, is being taken away for treatment. When he dies, we watch as Chuyia's bangles are broken with a stone from her wrist by her mother and her head is shaved. The next thing we witness is Chuyia arriving at a house where she has been placed to be among other widows, a curse in that culture.
Chuyia, an impish child of great vitality, is the youngest among all the women that occupy that unhappy home. Shakuntala, who appears to be in charge of the house, likes the girl, but she wants to impress the child in what is expected of her. Chuyia also meets the beautiful Kalyani, a ravishing creature who spends most of her time by herself in a room on the second floor. Kalyani and Chuyia bond because both have experienced the same fate, as the older girl came to the house also when she was young.
Kalyani is also the one that is bringing some money into the house because she is being exploited by the older women as a prostitute. Kalyani is taken at night for trysts with local wealthy men. When Narayan, the young handsome man from a rich family, discovers the beautiful Kalyani, it's love at first sight. Kalyani also experiences for the first time a kind of love she never knew existed. Unfortunately, their love is doomed from the start. Changes are coming to India quickly by way of the great work of Ghandi, who is the inspiration for the liberation of the country.
Deepa Mehta, the director of "Water", has created a film of exquisite beauty that is not afraid to tackle the hypocrisy of how widows are treated cruelly by their society. Even though the action took place as India was being liberated from the British, it appears not much has changed since this practice is still exists. Ms. Mehta's film deals with the injustice in ways that surprise us. Other film makers wouldn't dare to go where Ms. Mehta goes, perhaps with the exception of Mira Nair, another Indian director whose films take a different approach to their culture.
The best thing in the film is young Sarala, who as Chuyia steals our hearts. We respond to her plight because to our way of thinking it's inconceivable to subject a young girl to be banished from her family in the way this girl does. It's cruel to allow these children to be married when they would be better off being children and stealing a childhood from them.
The lovely Lisa Ray plays Kalyani, a woman of such radiant beauty that she sticks out like a sore thumb from the company of these unfortunate dwellers of that unhappy house. John Abraham is perfect as Narayan, with his handsome looks. Seema Biswas is also effective as the only woman who is kind to the young Chuyia.
Deepa Mehta shows again she is not afraid to explore any subjects that are deemed taboo in her culture. Ms. Mehta continues to surprise with each new movie.
Chuyia, an impish child of great vitality, is the youngest among all the women that occupy that unhappy home. Shakuntala, who appears to be in charge of the house, likes the girl, but she wants to impress the child in what is expected of her. Chuyia also meets the beautiful Kalyani, a ravishing creature who spends most of her time by herself in a room on the second floor. Kalyani and Chuyia bond because both have experienced the same fate, as the older girl came to the house also when she was young.
Kalyani is also the one that is bringing some money into the house because she is being exploited by the older women as a prostitute. Kalyani is taken at night for trysts with local wealthy men. When Narayan, the young handsome man from a rich family, discovers the beautiful Kalyani, it's love at first sight. Kalyani also experiences for the first time a kind of love she never knew existed. Unfortunately, their love is doomed from the start. Changes are coming to India quickly by way of the great work of Ghandi, who is the inspiration for the liberation of the country.
Deepa Mehta, the director of "Water", has created a film of exquisite beauty that is not afraid to tackle the hypocrisy of how widows are treated cruelly by their society. Even though the action took place as India was being liberated from the British, it appears not much has changed since this practice is still exists. Ms. Mehta's film deals with the injustice in ways that surprise us. Other film makers wouldn't dare to go where Ms. Mehta goes, perhaps with the exception of Mira Nair, another Indian director whose films take a different approach to their culture.
The best thing in the film is young Sarala, who as Chuyia steals our hearts. We respond to her plight because to our way of thinking it's inconceivable to subject a young girl to be banished from her family in the way this girl does. It's cruel to allow these children to be married when they would be better off being children and stealing a childhood from them.
The lovely Lisa Ray plays Kalyani, a woman of such radiant beauty that she sticks out like a sore thumb from the company of these unfortunate dwellers of that unhappy house. John Abraham is perfect as Narayan, with his handsome looks. Seema Biswas is also effective as the only woman who is kind to the young Chuyia.
Deepa Mehta shows again she is not afraid to explore any subjects that are deemed taboo in her culture. Ms. Mehta continues to surprise with each new movie.