Water

One of the beautiful aspects of movies is the extraordinary variety available to the adventurous viewer. I enjoy a great action flick as much as anyone, but it's the lesser-known films that generally have a greater impact on my world view. And while I often approach these with some trepidation, more often than not I discover a work that was well worth my time.

Water is just such a movie. The third in a trilogy written and directed by Deepa Mehta, Water is a moving story about an outcast settlement of Indian widows in the late 1930's, as British colonialism was waning and Gandhi's influence on the rise. Oppressed by traditional Hindu beliefs which leave only doleful and heartbreaking options for widows, Mehta's story unfolds through the fate of three women. At the center is Chuyia (Sarala), a young girl who was married to an older man that she does not remember. Her father painfully leaves her at the widow's temple, driven by law, culture and religion. There she befriends Kalyani (Lisa Ray), a beautiful, spiritual young woman, also married as a young child, and now forced to prostitution to financially support the temple; and Shakantula Didi, a bitter and strong-willed woman who struggles with the conflicts of her faith and her conscience.

Mehta has so much to say--about history, Gandhi, religion, culture, woman and widows, in particular. (For many widows in India things have change surprisingly little, which prompts the speculation about widows everywhere, including those closer to home.) She makes her points emotively, through a deliberately-paced and visually beautiful movie, powerful characters and remarkable performances by a talented cast. Shot on location in India (it's in Hindi with subtitles), the movie faced violent opposition from Hindu traditionalists. Fortunately for all of us, Mehta persevered. Water is a tragic story filled with compassion, humor and hope, and one that I will never forget.