15.3 View Water (2005, 119 min.) Deepa Mehta

15.3 View Water (2005, 119 min.) Deepa Mehta

View Water (Links to an external site.)  (Links to an external site.)(2005, 119 min.) Deepa Mehta 

Water is one of three films that comprise a trilogy -  Fire (1996) and  Earth (1998) are the others.

As we studied cultural invisibility we explored the concept that a film reflects the culture from which it comes. 

Film in Indian developed historically not through a link with literature and the novel, but through theater.  Thus, Indian film tends to reflect culturally specific theatrical elements. Early silent Indian cinema audiences were often non-reading.  Further, multiple languages are spoken. 

For a reading audience the question of what language to print subtitles in automatically excluded some audience members. Historical stories based on legends, stories of the pantheon of the gods/heroes were often prevalent. Indian film audiences were familiar with these stories/legends/myths and the manner in which they were told through theater and therefore language or subtitles were not a must.

A star, six songs and three dances is a dismissive definition coined by Western critics of Indian, and specifically Bollywood, cinema. Water is considered a hybrid production; it includes elements of both Indian/South Asian cinema and Western/Hollywood productions.

This skeletal outline to be used to aid in note taking in regards to the film viewed. Feel free to download it and either use it as a reference, or as a page in your film notebook.

How is this a hybrid film?

How is the film focalized? (from last week's presentation)

Auteur theory?

Other interesting moments/techniques.

Examples of meaning or invisibility.

Questions?