A Passage to India (1984)

Good concept, poorly executed.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Rewatching A Passage to India after a few years, it is not one of my favourite David Lean films like Lawrence of Arabia, Great Expectations, Bridge on the River Kwai, Brief Encounter and Oliver Twist are, but for a swansong of a great director (one of my personal favourites actually) it's a very good one, but I do remember liking it more on first watch.A Passage to India is not perfect, it ends anti-climactically and parts feel overlong and stretched with some drifting storytelling. This is also a rare case where the normally great Alec Guiness felt wasted and miscast, he never convinces in his very underwritten role and the performance is filled with uncharacteristically over-stated mannerisms.However, Lean directs superbly and the film is lavishly made with typically luscious cinematography, lavish period detail and some of the most gorgeously evocative scenery of any Lean film (in a filmography of films filled with gorgeous scenery). Maurice Jarre's music score has been criticised for being an ill-fit, for me while lacking the Indian flavour and a tad too jaunty in the credits it is sumptuously scored, soaringly epic, sounds glorious and evokes a lot of emotion. The script is literate and very beautifully written, capturing the essence of Forster's writing while not feeling overly wordy or heavy, while the story is rich in atmosphere and explores the important themes of colonialism, relationships between cultures and the British Empire and its imperialism in a subtle but powerful way.The film has been criticised for its pacing, and while there are a few draggy moments due to a few scenes feeling too stretched the main reason for the deliberate pacing was most likely for the viewer to soak up the setting and its atmosphere, A Passage to India does this brilliantly (and this is true for Lean's work in general as well). The part covering the trial is mostly fantastic but could have been longer, and the characters and their interactions are fascinating and well-realised. The acting is truly excellent, Peggy Ashcroft rightfully won an Oscar for her divine performance (especially in the temple scene) and Judy Davis is every bit her equal in a difficult but impulsively and movingly played performance. James Fox is remarkably thoughtful and sympathetic in his role, and Victor Banerjee gives his caricature role a real expressivity.Overall, a very good swansong from Lean and a very good film. 7.5/10 Bethany Cox

It's the first time out of England for Adela Quested (Judy Davis) and she is drawn to the Marabar Caves in India. She's traveling with her friend Mrs. Moore (Peggy Ashcroft) who's the mother of her boyfriend city magistrate Ronny Heaslop (Nigel Havers). They are met on the train by the Turtons. Mrs. Moore encounters widower Dr. Aziz Ahmed in a rundown mosque. He is invited to tea with the ladies, Mr. Fielding (James Fox) and Professor Godbole (Alec Guinness). Aziz invites them to see the caves and spends a great deal of money out of obligation. Mrs. Moore is tired by the experience. Aziz, Adela and the guide go off to the higher caves. Adela comes back accusing Aziz of molesting her and Aziz is arrested.It's a fascinating look at colonial India and the clash of cultures. I would have liked Godbole to be played by an Indian. Alec Guinness is fine but he's not doing anything extraordinary. This seems like a nice simple period piece and then the twist happens. I like that all the characters get turn on their heads. It's unexpected and fascinating.

Interesting story with wonderful cinematography.Set in India in the 1920s, this is a story of cultural intolerance, acceptance and reconciliation. Not the usual patronising films of the past set in India. Much more balanced, and, if anything, the English come out looking like the bad guys.Stunning scenery and great cinematography.Plot builds slowly. Once the key scene occurs the movie is set up for a great tale of justice, or injustice. However, despite the potential, these themes are just touched on and are concluded rather tamely. Ending feels a bit muddled and anti-climactic. So, good, but could have been a lot better, especially since the story takes so long to be told.

Different, strange and slow. Long road to the platеаu over which the karma is bringing you in Indian way and the destiny in European. It does not matter how hard you try the outcome is always getting there. Where you might ask? Close to yourself.This movie touches historical and political themes, even its naivety it represent the difficulty of human relationships provoked by youth and uncertain future. Shortly lived, the protagonists had parts of their past in them which navigate their behavior. Only when these parts are well milled by the mills of experience and building strong individuality they will find peace.The action is taking in beautiful places in oriental India that is opposed to well behaved England. It is questioned which view for what is right is right and can be called objectively such.By leaving aside that I literally tried to help a boat at the end of the movie to become faster and the frequent use of the rain as a symbol of the life little streams that we all live and that are coming with the rain and going to the endless ocean, the movie is nice because it shows which are the values that are left at the end and which behavior is making sense at any point.http://vihrenmitevmovies.blogspot.com/