It's an Indian film I saw tonight:
Set in the 1930s in the Indian holy city of Varanasi, the film examines the plight of a group of widows forced into poverty at a temple, and in particular the beautiful, headstrong Kalyani (Ray), who is unwilling to accept the harsh restrictions imposed by Indian society on widows, and her relationship with a man from a lower caste, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. The shooting of Water was interrupted for four years following enormous protests from Hindu fundamentalists. Offering a serious comment on the crushing of women by atrophied religious and social dogmas but retaining a profound sense of humanism, the ensemble acting of the women in the widows’ hostel is exceptional.
It was a very good film, but left me feeling angry and frustraited with the terrible things that go on in the world.
