The River

Three adolescent girls growing up in Bengal, India, learn their lessons in life after falling for an older American soldier. While I am not at all familiar with the cinema of India, my impression is that it probably did not get started until the 1960s. Maybe this is wrong. But Jean Renoir's "River" may be the first significant film to come out of India following the country's independence in 1948. The "coming of age" aspect of the three girls is very interesting and a good narrative, but more important is the way Indian culture and religion is shown. When did the West become interested in India? Long ago, surely. But there seems to be a Renaissance mid-1900s with such writers as Christopher Isherwood. This film, no doubt, helped push that Renaissance.

Unlike many western movies i have seen that portrays Indians as if they were some nomadic people who are far from culture and sophistication, this film understands and illustrates the exact philosophy behind every deed that is performed by the Indians. And also i wonder why can't so many great directors inspire from a film like this to understand that the true culture lies in philosophy and not in their race or color. I suppose it is easy to stick to stereotypes rather than educating through movies. Therefore, it is not diversity for namesake that is important, but proper the depiction of one's understanding towards the diversity.

My Rating : 9/10 Being an Indian I knew I would be able to connect to this on some level even though it's a different time and place. I found it on Scorsese's top 10 list for Criterion and it certainly piqued my interest. Good film. Yes the acting is a bit wooden but I think you could overlook it as it's made in 1950's by a foreign director and just what he has managed is commendable. I absolutely loved the voiceover narration by the protagonist and the cinematography is gorgeous to boot. Great experience. Recommended.

This is one of those rare films which give you the impression after viewing it that you have truly lived and shared the lives of its characters (not just 'two people received that kiss', as they say in the film, but everyone who's watching the movie). You became part of that river as the film progresses, it is perhaps the picture which has described the passage of time better than any other. It is life, running within its waters, that catches your soul, which melts with the river and the film and your memory... I think it is the only movie that made me run to a bookstore to buy the book it was based on. Rumer Godden's work is beautiful indeed, but the film is far better for me. Highly recommended!

I rated this film 9 instead of 10 because of its slow start and because of some of the acting. But what a movie! I don't think it's an accident that Renoir is the son of the great impressionist painter, because in this film, he uses the screen as a canvas. The shot of Valerie standing in midscreen with the green pond and foliage behind her is indescribably beautiful. Moreover, the sensuousness achieved here is rare in film. I felt that I was in India 50 years ago, so skilled was Renoir in being able to absorb the viewer into the film. A real find!

This film was very lovely to look at and it was obvious that both the author and director had a great love for the material. It is seen in the gentle and non-hurried scenes of everyday life for an English family living in the Bengal region of India. There are a couple aspects of the movie that might put off the average viewer. First, many of the actors are obviously not professionals and occasionally their acting does seem a little amateurish--though it is be no means terrible. Second, because the movie moves at such a slow and gentle pace, some may also become bored very quickly. While I was not bored, I was feeling a bit "antsy" and wish they had picked up the pace a bit. So, overall, it was a good film but I have seen several Indian films I liked much more than this one.