"Earth" tells (in Hindi mixed with English) the
story of the 1947 partitioning of India as seen
through the eyes of a little girl named Lenny.
Lenny's Nanny, the beautiful Hindu Shanta, hangs with
a hip, religiously-mixed bunch of friends who try
fruitlessly to hold their friendship above their
various affiliations as the British pull out after
200 years of rule.
Painting in a yellowish stroke the passion of
life, love and death; the film is accented with
romance and courtship amidst tragic religion-based
massacring.
Though this particular dispute between Eastern
religious factions occurred half a century ago on the
other side of the planet, it certainly colors an all
too familiar picture. Not short on cute proverbs and
parables, the film itself, teaches the saddest of
lessons.
Slightly on the over-dramatic side (acting and
camera direction), much of the spoken English may be
difficult to decipher. But, the pace is strong,
images warm and deep, and story powerful.
"Earth" is the second film in director Mehta's
trilogy: Fire, Earth and Water.
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