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      Water

      PG-13 2005 1 hr. 57 min. Drama List
      91% 96 Reviews Tomatometer 90% 25,000+ Ratings Audience Score The year is 1938, and Mahatma Gandhi's groundbreaking philosophies are sweeping across India, but 8-year-old Chuyia (Sarala), newly widowed, must go to live with other outcast widows on an ashram. Her presence transforms the ashram as she befriends two of her compatriots (Seema Biswas, Lisa Ray). Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Jan 26 Buy Now

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      Water

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      Water

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      Critics Consensus

      This compassionate work of social criticism is also luminous, due to both its lyrical imagery and cast.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Jerod S Water explores the religious aspect of being a widow in India. Following a young girl that is widowed at 7, a prostitute and older widows, it is beautifully shot and fits as a tragedy more than anything. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/20/23 Full Review Carol S Beautiful, done with grace and a softness. A story deserving of cinematic platforms! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/04/23 Full Review dave s Set in 1938 India, when young Chuyia's husband dies, the eight-year-old, so as not to be a burden on her family or a source of shame, is sent to live in an ashram for widows. Over time, the beautiful Kalyani (Lisa Ray), takes Chuyia under her wing, serving as a mentor for the young girl. Deepa Mehta's Water effectively brings to light an immoral practice that has been employed for centuries. The film is beautifully shot on locations in Sri Lanka and features strong performances from both Ray and Sarala Kariyawasam as Chuyia. While the central story is compelling, the movie veers off an a romantic tangent midway through, which seems to lessen the overall impact and take attention away from the tragedy that is Chuyia's life. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Really powerful story overall, and I loved the dynamics between the female characters of different ages. Chuyia's character is great -- obviously dealing with a lot of horror in her life, but played in such a way that the survival and moments of joy and quickening interest stand out. The movie is at its best when it's refusing to be a tragedy and refusing a heroic happy ending, exploring the way these characters keep living after immense hardships. I could have done without the overwhelming, iconic version of Gandhi. The young, Brahmin law student who kind of serves as a stand-in for Gandhi's politics throughout the movie also kind of serves as a savior figure who doesn't have much nuance. These characters are relatively depoliticized, to the extent that they are presented as the only alternative to backwardness; the shining future of India. Comparatively, the women were sapped of agency when next to them. The imagery was overpowering and kind of choking: the train going into the future, while Shakuntala is looking back to the past. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member To know what was India in the past and the social reformation that took place during Gandhi's days. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member Inquiring among the problems for the lack of gender equity in India, this film is built here with sumptuousness, high descriptions, entertainment and subtlety to deal with sensitive issues, being a fascinating story parallel to the independence of this country carried out in a committed and effective way - as it had to be. 78/100 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Alyx Vesey Bitch Media Overall, Mehta's maturing ear for dialogue benefits the cast's talents. In addition, art director Sumant Jayakrishnan sumptuous production design and A.R. Rahman's score deepen reception of the film. Jan 7, 2021 Full Review Shubhra Gupta The Indian Express Water is stunning because it is so quiet. The devastating unfairness of the lives of women interred in darkness, intertwined with the tragic love story of Narayan and Kalyani is played out without a hint of melodrama. Jun 21, 2019 Full Review Deborah Ross The Spectator In the end, Water is too much of a compromise. A compromise between, perhaps, shocking the West with the subject matter - a eight-year-old widow! - and going for a popular Indian audience who will demand Bollywood romance. Aug 22, 2018 Full Review Jimmy Cage Jimmy Cage Movie Reviews (YouTube) WATER is a moving and important film that presents a horrific true story in beautiful images. The only downers are the somewhat too constructed dramaturgy and the sometimes missing closeness to the characters. Rated: 7/10 Apr 25, 2022 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com The crown jewel of Deepah Mehta's career. Rated: 4.0/4.0 Sep 26, 2020 Full Review Kaleem Aftab The List Feels slightly compromised, but a riveting tearjerker that's stunning to look at. Rated: 3/5 Nov 3, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis The year is 1938, and Mahatma Gandhi's groundbreaking philosophies are sweeping across India, but 8-year-old Chuyia (Sarala), newly widowed, must go to live with other outcast widows on an ashram. Her presence transforms the ashram as she befriends two of her compatriots (Seema Biswas, Lisa Ray).
      Director
      Deepa Mehta
      Executive Producer
      Mark Burton, Ajay Virmani, Doug Mankoff
      Screenwriter
      Deepa Mehta
      Production Co
      Deepa Mehta Films, Téléfilm Canada
      Rating
      PG-13 (Mature Thematic Material|Brief Drug Use|Sexual Situations)
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      Hindi
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Mar 1, 2013
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $3.2M
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