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The first in a trilogy encompassing ‘Fire’, ‘Earth’ and ‘Water’, Deepa Mehta’s engrossing study of a lesbian affair interweaves sexual repression, pressure-cooker desire, crumbling patriarchy and cultural transformation in contemporary India. The tugging away of traditional structures reflects social changes and the tension of modernism occurring across the sub-continent. Radha, the driving force behind husband Ashok’s New Delhi restaurant, cohabits peacefully, if at times uneasily, with her in-laws upstairs. Their barren 15 year old marriage is rent asunder by the arrival of sister-in-law Sita, a confident modern young wife who poses questions Radha would rather not face. Their husbands’ complacency and neglect draws the women into a tender relationship which detonates into tragedy. Cast includes Shaban Azmi, Nandita Das, Kulbushan Kharband and Jaared Jaaferi. In English and Bengali with English subtitles.
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How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
311585
Language
English
Audience classification
MA
Subject categories
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Family - India
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → India - Religion
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Women - India
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → India - Religion
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → India - Social conditions
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Refugees
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Women - India
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Family - India
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Homosexuality in motion pictures
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Women - India
Feature films → Feature films - Canada
Feature films → Feature films - India
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)