Fire

[Jennpurr]

I didn't see a thread for this movie, so I thought I would make one.



When I first saw this movie, I wasn't aware of the traditions in India. One of the only reasons I know a little bit more about the culture is because the pharmacist at my job is from India. Did you know that this movie was banned there? WOW...



I don't know the proper word to use to define this movie. There are some parts that I don't agree with and some parts that infuriated me, but I won't go into detail because I don't want to disrespect anyone and it's really not my place to say anything.



Can I just say though that the two women in this movie are absolutely breath-taking? WOW... The younger woman is stunning, but they are both very beautiful.



Okay, the ending confuses me. I know that they are together and going to leave, but what is the ending supposed to mean? I don't remember their names, so forgive me, but the one woman's dress caught on fire. Did she just collapse from exhaustion in the end or did she die? I don't think she died, but I guess I'm confused.



Can anyone give me their thoughts? And excuse my ignorance.



Jen

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[dekalog]

Jenn it's been awhile since I watched it so I wouldn't want to comment right now as my memory isn't as great as it once was



I think I may watch it again this weekend, so I want to thank you for bringing it up as I enjoyed the movie alot. I actually have several of her films. Fire was banned, as was Earth. She challenges things and her films have depth. I also had the wonderful privilege of being in the audience when she gave a lecture on film. She is a smart and witty woman.

[Gatito Grande]

Great movie. I also remember being confused during it (I actually had some trouble figuring out just who the older woman was married to! ). Nevertheless, despite the "cliche'" tragedy, it was my belief that the women were together (alive, if not completely well) at the end.



What was particularly well done, I thought, was how, um, "organic" their relationship developed. When one of them says "I didn't know there was a word for us," you really believe it---they didn't know they had fallen in love until it was overwhelming (the way something can almost undetectably smolder, and then Boom! burst into full-blown Fire).



I also liked the family complexity (once I figured it out!): the young guy really shouldn't/didn't want to marry the young woman, except 1) his girlfriend was the wrong race (not Indian---and suitable caste, one assumes, ala the arranged wife) and 2) she was smart enough to stay out of that family anyway! At any rate, he wasn't an ogre (that role was reserved to grandma: it's sad but true that it happens that way sometimes---though grandma probably had a troubling back-story too. Patriarchal cultures do that. )



GG Thanks for bringing this movie up, Jen. Out



It's also interesting to compare this movie to Monsoon Wedding. The latter, while not nearly as moving (no f/f love-story in it ), does help illuminate (it helped me, anyway) some Indian marital customs. For example, it's fairly common for *both* bride and groom---in higher castes, I'm guessing?---to have a respective bf and gf on the verge of the wedding: then have to decide whether to be faithful to the new spouse, or carry on as "affairs."

[dekalog]

Jennpurr



I wanted to answer you question properly with the correct names and such, so sorry it took me so long to answer your question.



The ending has to do with a tale recurs throughout the film the story of Ramayana --www.maxwell.syr.edu/maxpa.../ramayana/

it is the story that Biji watched while Mundu*does his business*, and the story that is acted out for the Swamiji and Ashok the first time that Radha and Sita make love.



The story talks about how Rama, a god tests his wife Sita's purity by making her walk through fire - if she is a sinner she will perish, but if she survives she is pure and virtuous. In the end - as with Radha, she survives the fire and is deemed pure and virtuous.



This is a very simple explanation, but basically is telling as to why the film created such a stir because the filmmaker is basically saying that Radha choosing to leave and be with Sita in a loving sexual relationship is virtuous, right and pure. Using an epic tale to say that just puts the proverbial log on the fire.



Metaphors and symbolism abound in this movie in a wonderful way. I forgot how much I enjoyed it. My favorite is still the opening tale Radha hears from her mother sitting in the field of flowers.



"What you can't see - you can't see. You just have to see without looking".

[WebWarlock]

I checked and Netflix has this.



It is in my queue and as soon as I watch it, I'll report here.



Warlock

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Web Warlock

Coming Soon to The Other Side, The Netbook of Shadows: A Book of Spells for d20 Witches

"I am the god of hellfire! And I bring you Fire!" - Arthur Brown, "Fire" The Crazy World of Arthur Brown

[ElDonia]

Dekalog



I appreciate your explanation -- it's a validation for me:



Back when Fire was doing it's first theater run, I took an ex-girlfriend to see it because I thought it was so good. But the ex didn't like it because "in the end, Sita sits with her dying lover in her arms!"

[sam7777]

I caught "Fire" on the Sundance (or IFC) channel (they show it uncut and don't change the format to fit the screen). I really enjoyed it. The ending is happy as far as I can see with the two women together and alive if a bit worse for wear. It's a beautiful tale of two people falling in love and overcoming barriers to be together and the film is lovely to watch from the costumes and settings (can never go wrong with the Taj Majal). I also like that the guys while not really good were not all bad either which makes it more realistic IMHO.



Dekalog: Your info makes the end much clearer. It's a beautiful use of metaphor to actually say that their love is good which is truly rare and almost unique in film.



GG: I also like how their relationship developed so naturally. Both women were lonely and they found first friendship and then love in one another just like W/T.



It's amazing and sad that such a beautiful film could be so controversial. Unhappily the US is not the only country with many people having backward attitude toward GLBT folks.



I wish there were more movies like this being made.

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I still see dead lesbian cliches

Edited by: sam7777  at: 1/3/05 2:07 pm