The Forgotten Woman

2008

1h 28m

Documentary

List

Reviews

88%

Audience Score

100+ Ratings

Filmmakers delve into the stories of some of the 20 million Indian widows whose families abandoned them after their husbands died.

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Nathan Lee

New York Times

Mr. Mehta's picture is a documentary, and while it ought to be included on every future copy of the Water DVD, his free-form portrait of real widows has more than enough visual beauty, graceful compassion and understated anger to stand on its own.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 8, 2008

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Susan Walker

Toronto Star

[Director Dilip] Mehta has done a fine job of getting the message out to the world.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 28, 2008

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Jennie Punter

Globe and Mail

Both the beauty and the horror of The Forgotten Woman are that it looks and feels like time travel.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 28, 2008

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Audience Member

Angering documentary about India's cultural misogyny. Well made. Some inspirational women documented here.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

Very well made, and very disconcerting.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Audience Member

Mehta must have graduated at the top of his photography class! Beautiful cinematography and great storytelling. Nice partnership with his sister. An issue that needs more attention . Thanks for continuing to educate us all.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Audience Member

In some ways more compelling than Water as we have the true life examples of the widows of India and the existence that they are forced to live through.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Audience Member

I had high expectations for this documentary but it fell a little short. It seemed to ramble at times and didn't have a clear voice. The last half was better and the subject matter is definitely worth exploring.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

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Audience Member

Certainly see "Water" as well as this film. It truly explores how women are treated as derelicts/exiled from their children after their father passes away/ dying on the streets and not even given a ceremony for their death. the culture allows this to occur where the widows need to beg for food, considered bothersome in the community due to their need for food and shelter... and even though they may have had a house, it is encouraged to give it to the children (for their blessings after death), and the children desert them, considering it bad luck to have her around. It's truly awful to know and see that this happens today in this area of the world. Women have much to fight for... Feminism is not dead.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Dilip Mehta

Director

Deepa Mehta

Writer

David Hamilton

Executive Producer

Deepa Mehta

Executive Producer

Noemi Weiss

Executive Producer

Dilip Mehta

Film Editing

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Synopsis

Filmmakers delve into the stories of some of the 20 million Indian widows whose families abandoned them after their husbands died.

Director: Dilip Mehta
Producer: David Hamilton, Deepa Mehta, Noemi Weiss
Screenwriter: Deepa Mehta
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Bangla
Runtime: 1h 28m