And there are the following drawbacks: Black and white characters, ludicrous denouement, tacked on immigrant theme (whereas much of the bride's suffering could as well be in an average urban household in Punjab), stone-faced actors, jarringly juxtaposed lyricism and visual shifts, laughable surreality (the Sita scene and, later, the halo around Chand and a principle character takes the take), inexplicable digressions (what was the teeth in the toilet bit all about? what about the initial coke and beer bit?), and so on.
And I have a major issue with the film: Notwithstanding the domestic violence in immigrant and domestic Indian households, this film will scare the potential immigrants more than is justified. It is an unreasonably biased look. And instead of offering solutions and resolutions in the space where the problem exists, the victim flies back to her home to her mother? Look ma, no problem!
7 comments:
And instead of offering solutions and resolutions in the space where the problem exists, the victim flies back to her home to her mother? Look ma, no problem!
What is the solution, call 911 and land the in-laws in prison? What would that achieve except pain for everyone all around? The family was not rich enough for alimony either.
"What is the solution, call 911 and land the in-laws in prison? What would that achieve except pain for everyone all around? The family was not rich enough for alimony either."
Some possible solutions:
- Call an acquaintance in Canada, or write a letter (or call) home, asking for the suggestion of some acquaintance in Canada to help her out.
- Call on the gurudwara and the Sikh community for help.
- Involve a women's cell, or if the violence is increasing, call 911. Yes, have a charge slapped on the husband for beating her up. She anyway can earn enough for herself (8-9$ per hour).
- Involve other relatives from her in-laws' side.
- Be more assertive. Refuse to get beaten silently. She doesn't even scream in this film.
- Find more about Canada and whom to contact in case of trouble BEFORE she leaves India after her wedding.
What help, is not leaving Canada the best option? Or do you suggest that she keep her job, live elsewhere and wage a legal war on her inlaws? Apart from all the immigration and work issues (was she authorized to work?) and apart from the fact that the factory owner looked to be close to her in-laws, such a legal war would perhaps give some satisfaction of avenging the wrongs done to her, but it achieves little else. It will perhaps will destroy the inlaws family irreparably since her husband, the only earning member of that family would land in jail. It also puts her in danger because who knows what shady characters the husband would send after her. Better to start a new life than be engaged in such battles waged in a foreign country.
One thing stuck me as odd though, she was sent to Canada before being married and is later married in the Sikh Temple.
Hi NRI,
You may be right that going back to India might have been the best option in her case. But an option is not "best" till one is shown the other options and the reasons why they won't work.
I know many women who separated from their husbands in Canada and Australia because of domestic violence, and are better there than they would ever be in India (with the stigma of divorce etc.)
...solutions are not easy to come in such situations. Another film that deals with the issue is, 'Provoked' (based on a real life incident)in which the protagonist takes the matter in her own hand=> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provoked_(film)
while the original play on which it is based: Naag Mandala by Girish Karnard has a focus on the the articulation of woman's desires and mixes fiction and real life, Deepa seems to have played the diaspora card to situate the film in Canada. Since the focus of the film has shifted from the original intention of the story, the end result is inconsistent.
Chand has no intentions of asking for help in resolution of the problem. She is merely looking for expression of her desire. Be it India or Canada, she needs a release from stifling strictures. Domestic violence is only a justification for her turning away from Husband and exploring alternative.
I agree that this film has a biased look, but about the solution that she adopts, i think its justified becoz of:
1. Her coming to Canada was seemingly a consequence of her parents decison to marry her off to Canada and use her so she could sponsor her brother later. If it didn't work out, why shud she alone be struggling for a living in canada (assuming that she gets divorced eventually and continues staying there)
2. The movie in a subtle way shows her cultural ties (the recitations etc) and also shows that she wasn't happy about her life in canada when she discourages her brother on phone about it. So if she intends to go back, why shudn't she? It in no way means giving up, it's a choice.
3. About discouraging the potential immigrants, i wud say it really needs to be done like this becoz people sending their innocent daughters or even sons solely on marriage basis are taking huge risks and there are many such true stories around. There are more people painting rosy pictures of canada etc, in villages of punjab for example, and hence the one going against has to do it more boldly.
4. Divorce is not that huge a stigma and i know of girls who got divorced and got married again living in india and are leading happy lives. With the divorce rates increasing, there are divorced people in both the sexes trying to settle down again.
I like deepa mehta and her films in general though.
:)
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