Water (2005, India)

A drama set in pre-independence India, surrounding the plight of widows in Hindu communities. Although suttee (the practice of burning widows on their husbands' funeral pyres) had been made illegal, it was still commonplace, and widows who avoided that fate were in a difficult predicament.

Chuyia is an eight-year old girl, and having been married at such a young age, she has now been widowed too. Not comprehending what is in store, she is forcibly placed in a widows' refuge in the holy city of Benares. Despised by everyione else, the widows eke out an existence there. The place is dominated by the evil Madhumati.

A person described in the dialogue as a eunuch, that is, a transsexual, acts as a pimp, and arranges for assignations between men and the more vulnerable (and attractive) women).

Despite the extremely dark theme, this is a moving and uplifting film, with a fine depiction of real Indian life.

HF December 2010

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