Female director Deepa Mehta is one of the best, most controversial filmmakers in India. Her 1997 film Fire possibly the first lesbian film in India ever sparked a storm of protest in her country over its portrayal of two married women having an affair. LGBT groups quickly came to her defense. But that didn't stop Deepa from being sharply criticized, even reviled, by conservative segments of her society. She even received death threats.
Her new and wonderful film, Water, is also the subject of controversy. Like her previous films, it addresses the patriarchal system, Hindu orthodoxy and sexual taboos in India. Though she began shooting it in India in 2000, she was driven out by protests from extremist religious groups. She was forced to find new actors and reshoot the film in Sri Lanka.
Her persistence should be admired. Water is a vital example of socially-relevant and conscientious cinema.
It stars young Sarala as an 8-year-old child bride who has recently lost her husband. But according to old marital customs, she is not allowed to ever remarry. She has her head shaven and is taken to an ashram, a house for widows. There, she meets other fellow widows, including a young and beautiful woman (Lisa Ray) and an old "Auntie" (Vidula Javalgekar), Each woman has her own stories to share and struggles to bear.
Water is a gentle and poetic drama that brims with beauty and sorrow. Each character is delicately fleshed out, so you have a sense of the poignancy of their lives. They seep into your head and your heart, and stay there for a long time.
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