I went to see this week's International Cinema film Water last Friday (by myself... but that's another story. Perhaps I'll continue it below.*) It was beautiful- and beautifully depressing. Directed by Deepa Mehta, it's in Hindi, and set in India in 1947 (although it was filmed in Sri Lanka due to political controversy. It's also banned in India.) The film is about a seven (yes, seven- no typo, not seventeen) year-old widow, Chuyia who is sent to live in an ashram, or prison-like home, for widows. "Water" describes her experience adapting (reluctantly) to her new way of life.
It also focuses on the lives of two other strong women who befriend Chuyia. One is a beautiful, pure-in-heart young woman who is pimped out (reminds me of Sonia from Crime and Punishment... what is with the good-hearted prostitute archetype?) yet falls in love with a noble Nationalist lawyer-in-training. The other is a highly religious and stoic woman whose faith is challenged due to the exceeding hardship and inequity she lives with. As the film goes on, tragedy, of course, ensues. The message of the film is obviously to bring attention to the horrible conditions that widows in India were, and still are, subjected to. The issue here is that Hindu Holy texts are interpreted so as to conveniently make widows the lowest of citizens. While everyone claims cultural or religious justification, as one character says, "It's all about money- one less mouth to feed, four saris saved, an extra bed." Just like with so many other forms of oppression.
My favorite quote of the movie was when the horrible ashram matron asks, "And when our husbands die, God help us, the wives also half die. So how can a poor half-dead woman feel any pain?" She Chuyia replies "Because she is half-alive."
As with so many other films about issues like this, there's no resolution (perhaps it's an Indian thing? I know Salaam Bombay is much the same... as well as Jhumpa Lahiri's short stories, which are fabulous but make you want to give up on love and life and the whole world.) There's no Slumdog Millionaire feel-good moment at the end. You're left with tears and a sickness in the pit of your stomach, a longing in your heart that things will work out right. But they don't- and how can they? It's not hard to see why this film would be banned in India, although it's lamentable. It certainly sheds an unhappy and unyielding light on the inequity of widows' statuses in Indian society. Although it's set in pre-independence India, and certainly things have gotten better since then, there are still so many problems.
Watching this movie just strengthened my India obsession. I want to go there, live there, work there so so so incredibly badly. And listening to the dialogue made me want to learn Hindi even worse. I'm going to go with Arabic for now, but I may be tempted to switch.... or do both (am I insane? Yes. The answer would be yes.) The scenery was so gorgeous... the colors and the intensity of it all. And the social issues it presented made me want to DO something- that's what I want to do for my job. Help these people who are so oppressed and left without a means of support. Furthermore, it made me want pursue Anthropology again because I realized how much of these issues are instigated and reinforced by cultural traditions, and that you have to understand the culture if you're going to make any real progress. Sigh... International Relations, Econ double major, and International Development and Anthro minors? Can it be done? I doubt it. But it's a cool thought.... Anyway. I digress.
In short, Water is an incredible film. After some research I found out it's the last in a trilogy of movies by Mehta- the first two being Fire and Earth. I'm definitely going to look into them. But you should all watch Water- it exposes some highly uncomfortable topics, but it's done with such strength and delicacy and beauty that it's worth every second. Highly recommended.
*I invited two of my guy friends from another dorm area to come and see it with me, for my birthday. Saw the one at lunch that very day- and he said he really wanted to come and was planning on it. So I texted him at 7:30, and he replied "Well, I'm actually at the basketball game right now. I might have to be a little late." A bit ticked, I said "Oh. Ok... well what time are you going to come?"
...
I never heard another word from him, he didn't ever come, and I still haven't heard a word. Rude. I was very mad. Very annoyed. I'm so done. I am tired of inviting these two (the other one especially) to do things, and them never committing. If they want to hang out, as the first one keeps professing, he can call ME and invite me to do something. And I'll show up. But until that day, I am done. Regardless, it was a great movie, and I would have gone no matter if I had to go alone- on my birthday- or not. I will admit being stood up didn't help the depressing spirit of the movie, however. But I'm a big girl, now, 19- mature, unlike some people.
Wow, it looks good. I would have to get in the right mood for it. Maybe when I need to release some emotion and cry my heart out. And good for you for going by yourself. Stupid boys!