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A Passage to India

Play trailer Poster for A Passage to India PG Released Jan 25, 1985 2h 43m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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77% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Based on the renowned E.M. Forster novel, this expansive period drama centers on the changing dynamic between British colonials and native locals in India during the 1920s. When an outing to explore scenic caves ends in English tourist Adela Quested (Judy Davis) accusing Indian doctor Aziz Ahmed (Victor Banerjee) of rape, the incident results in a major court case, one that reinforces tensions between the British Empire and the growing movement towards Indian independence.
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A Passage to India

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Critics Consensus

A Passage to India is a visually striking exploration of colonialism and prejudice, although it doesn't achieve the thematic breadth of director David Lean's finest work.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker The novel wants to be about unresolvability; the movie doesn’t, and isn’t. What’s remarkable about the film is how two such different temperaments as Forster’s and Lean’s could come together. Sep 13, 2023 Full Review Gavin Millar Sight & Sound It is a disappointing signpost to what lies ahead. Lean swiftly turns the narrative into a melodrama of social and sexual unease. Feb 10, 2020 Full Review Ian Nathan Empire Magazine The film, for all Lean's innate elegance, is strangely remote and unmoving. It could easily have been a Merchant-Ivory film. Rated: 3/5 Nov 6, 2007 Full Review Kat Halstead Common Sense Media A Passage to India still lives up to the hype some 40 years later. Sep 18, 2024 Full Review Christopher Lloyd The Film Yap David Lean's last film -- after a 14-year break -- was seen as a return to form. But it's an odd, sprawling work with an epic backdrop but a pinched sense of storytelling. Rated: 3/5 Jul 22, 2024 Full Review Molly Haskell Video Review David Lean's adaptation of E.M. For- ster's great Anglo-Indian novel is, for a great deal of its 2 1/2-hours running time, an exceptionally fine and civilized movie, almost a great one. Rated: 3/4 Jan 19, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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CodyZamboni Z Colonial ruled India, and colonial blatant prejudice, is forefront of David Lean's adaption, How prejudice brings together, and tears friendships apart, And then brings them back together. Top notch cinematography and performances, Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/06/25 Full Review nick s It's very well shot and well acted. But it strikes me as an immersive movie rather than a riveting one. I was quite bored. For all it's splendor I was left thinking "So where's it going? What's the point?" Lean is a great cinematographer's director but he doesn't hook the audience from the get go. I thought the acting was great in general but Banerjee's performance was a little stagey. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/02/25 Full Review Marcel d A fantastic film about prejudice and injustice. Truly a classic and a must-watch! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/24 Full Review Joe B Having seen around the time of release, I revisited it this year and was happy to see it's largely still very watchable. Whilst the characters now seem a little exaggerated, the themes still resonate today. Although seeing a browned up actor, this was early 80's, is uncomfortable. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/27/23 Full Review Anna A Magnificent. Stands the text of time Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/04/23 Full Review Leaburn O There are good moments but some of the characters are cartoonish and playing up to silly stereotypes. Felt far too long for a story that never really threatens to get going. Some interesting depictions of the Raj however. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Passage to India

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Cast & Crew

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David Lean

Director

Judy Davis

Adela

Peggy Ashcroft

Mrs. Moore

Victor Banerjee

Aziz

James Fox

Fielding

Alec Guinness

Godbole

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A Passage to India

A Passage to India (1984) A Passage to India (1984) A Passage to India (1984) A Passage to India (1984) A Passage to India (1984) A Passage to India (1984) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Based on the renowned E.M. Forster novel, this expansive period drama centers on the changing dynamic between British colonials and native locals in India during the 1920s. When an outing to explore scenic caves ends in English tourist Adela Quested (Judy Davis) accusing Indian doctor Aziz Ahmed (Victor Banerjee) of rape, the incident results in a major court case, one that reinforces tensions between the British Empire and the growing movement towards Indian independence.
Director
David Lean
Producer
John Brabourne, Richard Goodwin
Screenwriter
David Lean
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
EMI Films Ltd.
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 25, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2012
Runtime
2h 43m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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