| Edition |
Widescreen edition. |
| Description |
1 videodisc (117 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. |
| System Details |
DVD; Region 1, NTSC; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround; anamorphic widescreen presentation, aspect ratio 2.35:1. |
| Cast |
Seema Biswas (Shakuntula), Lisa Ray (Kalyani), John Abraham (Narayan), Sarala (Chuyia), Manorma (Madhumati), Vidula Javalgekar ('Auntie' Patiraji), Raghuvir Yadav (Gulabi), Kulbhushan Kharbanda (Sadananda), Vinay Pathak (Rabindra), Gerson Da Cunha (Seth Dwarkanath), Ronica Sainani (Kunti), Meera Biswas (Gyanvati), Waheeda Rehman (Bhagavati). |
| Credits |
Director of photography, Giles Nuttgens ; film editor, Colin Monie ; production designer, Dilip Mehta ; music composed by Mychael Danna ; songs composed by A. R. Rahman ; lyrics, Sukhwinder Singh ; costume designer, Dolly Ahluwallia ; Hindi translation of dialogue, Anurag Kashyap. |
| Note |
Originally produced as an Indian/Canadian motion picture in 2005. |
| Audience |
MPAA rating: PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexual situations, and for brief drug use. |
| Summary |
It is 1938, the twilight of colonial India, as Gandhi's protests begin to change Indian society. But for some women, things may never change. As widows, they are condemned by Hindu law to spend the rest of their lives in an ashram, to live out their lives in poverty, chastity, and humble obscurity. Then Chuyia, a bewildered 8-year-old who doesn't even remember being married, arrives and upsets everything. Madhumati, the head of the house; Shakuntala, an assistant to a local holy man; and quiet, gorgeous Kalyani are all moved--in very different ways--by her arrival. For these women, the question remains: how far--and for how long--can this cruel injustice be continued in the name of tradition? |
| Contents |
Main titles/Young widow -- Sisters in grief -- Prayer -- Runaway dog -- Gandhi -- No men allowed -- Water -- Sweets -- Night visit -- Auntie's death -- Reborn a man -- Narayan's note -- Kalyani at the temple -- Cloud messenger -- Lotus flower -- Sinful behavior -- Madhumati's parrot -- Freeing Kalyani -- Festival of color -- Kalyani's client -- One less mouth to feed -- Deceit -- Prayer meeting -- Take this child/End titles. |
| Note |
Special features: Commentary by director Deepa Mehta [optional audio feature]; Behind-the-scenes [featurette] (21 min.); The story behind the making of 'Water" [featurette] (4 min.). |
| Awards |
Winner, 2006 Genie Awards for Best performance by an actress in a leading role: Seema Biswas; Best achievement in cinematography: Giles Nuttgens; Best achievement in music - original score: Mychael Danna. |
| Language |
In Hindi with optional subtitles in English or Spanish; closed-captioned. |
| Note |
GMD: videorecording. |
| Local Note |
WNPLFFDVD |
| Subject |
Widows -- India -- Drama.
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Widowhood -- India -- Drama.
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Widows (Hindu law) -- Drama.
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Repentance -- Drama.
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Love -- Drama.
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India -- Drama.
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| Genre/Form |
Melodrama.
|
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Feature films.
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Foreign films.
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Motion pictures, Hindi.
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Feature films -- India.
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Feature films -- Canada.
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Video recordings for the hearing impaired.
|
| Added Author |
Hamilton, David (David C.) Producer.
|
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Mehta, Deepa, 1949- Screenwriter. Director.
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Biswas, Seema. Actor.
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Ray, Lisa, 1972- Actor.
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Abraham, John, 1972- Actor.
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Sarala, 1996- Actor.
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Manorma, -2008. Actor.
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Fox Searchlight Pictures.
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Mongrel Media.
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Telefilm Canada.
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Noble Nomad Pictures.
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Echo Lake Productions.
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Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Inc.
|
| Standard No. |
024543266143 00 |
| Music No. |
2236614 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment |
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