Film Critique: Water Uncovered
Culture is something that every region of the world posses and is also a way in which all people in the world differ. Water as a whole helps demonstrate to the audience an idea of what India was like in the time of Gandhi, which is around the 1920's. The movie focuses on its main characters, which are mainly widows, to demonstrate the Hindu caste system, and to show how a particular society functioned in everyday life. Detail is an important aspect of all movies, however especially in this film. The detail done to even the slightest background and character are what help to build the cultural experience, and these aspects help the viewer attain a further understanding of this culture.
Water is a film based in India in the 1920's, and it focuses on the Hindu caste system that, at the time, is was strictly implemented through religion. The main character Chuyia is a young eight year old girl, who has recently become widowed and must now live the widow life style. This means that her head was shaven, she was forced into wearing only white garments, and she must move to a widow community. These communities are meant to house only widows. It is in this community where she meets the following: Runti, who is head of the house and pimps out Kalyani to men with the help of her unique so that the women can eat; Kalyani, who is a beautiful young woman used as a prostitute to help fund the house; and Snehalata, who becomes a care taker for Kalyani and a mother like figure in her new community.
Now in her new community Chuyia must adjust to her lifestyle which she does not take a liking to, although she begins to detest it vocally as the story progresses. A key point in the film is when Narayan, a progressive member of the Brahmin class meets Kalyani. The two actually meet when Kalyani's dog runs off and Chuyia bumps into him. Instantly the two fall in love with one another, but in the caste system widows are considered misfortunate,...