I took an English novel course at Seoul National University graduate school in 1973. I read this great novel, "A Passage to India," and got an A grade point. ㅎㅎ My professor was Dear Baengnakchung.
Very helpful analysis. I know someone who worked on the set with David Lean and have heard some anecdotes. I watched this again this year after seeing it back in 1984. I'm an American deeply familiar with India. I know the area where the caves were filmed is visible on the train between Mysore and Bangalore. You have revealed layers I hadn't appreciated before. It's difficult to condense a book into a movie. Now I need to read the novel. When I first saw the movie, One thing that utterly confused me was the reveal of Stella's marriage. Her existence was barely mentioned in the movie. I have a feeling that narrative time constraints left out any kind of reference to a nascent relationship between Fielding and Stella.
Just finished watching it for a second time after a separation of 36 years. This helped with the muddle/mystery problems that I had with it both times. I enjoyed it more the second time.
The book has recently been read aloud and uploaded to TH-cam, by Fireside Reading. It was my introduction to EM Forster. Coincidentally, I was reading Still Life/ Sarah Winman ( audiobook), which in his style, and even mentions him.
I saw this movie when it first came out. I was taken back with the beauty of the film. Here was a 3 hour that I found riveting, not by the plot, but by the visuals. I knew then that the film was a meditation of death, The death of the British Empire the death of traditional India, the death of innocence, the death of antiquated ways of live (DR. Aziz is very progressive encouraging Indians to use modern healthcare measures). And in the film everyone is reborn. The film is full of visual metaphors. While I know there was controversy of Alec Guiness being cast as Hindi; but because he's in essence the force of reincarnation, it seemed to me that he probably was an English philosopher/professor in his past life, in other words also a metaphor.
Thank you so much. Really interesting. I just finished reading Forster’s novel - great &deep philosophy on every page, so much love for India and its indigenous population. It inspired me to re-watch Lean’s film and also a b/w tv version ( available on you tube) with dame sybil thorndike as a v spiritual, wonderful mrs moore. Its certainly worth watching ( though clearly the bbc couldnt afford the elephant). A Passage to India is the novel that goes on giving.
Absolutely, interesting work of art that is personal to every reader/cineast. Thank you very much for watching our take on it and sharing your thoughts.
Love this analysis! I wish the film had included that Adela was drugged out of her mind by doctors after she was "rescued" from the caves. That as I recall, she never accuses Dr. Aziz herself in the book, but the racist people around her assume that and she goes along with it. The trial is the first time SHE actually thinks on her own about what happened, which means she never changed her mind, but it was her first time (without influence from others) facing the truth.
Right, we agree that the courtroom is where Adela thinks on her own for the first time after the cruel incident. "Drugged out of her mind" - not sure though.
@@watershipdown3630 Been a few decades since I read the book, but I recall she's drugged out the first few days (because they have to remove the cactus needles) and that it also says no one ever asks her what happened or to go over the whole incident, they just assume, because of racism. I think the book says her testimony is the first time she really thinks it through. Aziz is more upset at Fielding than Quested, because he thought they were friends. A betrayal by a friend does make many people bitter.
Thanks for explaining the movie … just I saw it on tv n not able to understand the story … now it’s clear n feeling happy to know it’s full meaning ♥️🙏🏻🙏🏻
So if we are part of a pattern we cannot perceive, does it matter what we do? Is the pattern random? Is our fate already determined? Are these questions claimed to be answered in this particular belief system?
Yes, we believe our every action matters, because the world is interconnected - like a web - and irrespective of whether we can perceive or not, what we do is going to impact somebody. With respect to fate, it's definitely not predetermined. Again, our choices and actions in life are constantly changing our fate.
Tbh the film just felt senseless and confusing to me, although the portrayal of British India was commendable and quite accurate, if you see videos of the 1920s. What is the 'mystery of India'? What happened in the caves that made Adela so disturbed that she falsely accused Aziz? And how did the bruises came on her? It's technically a wonderful film, but the plot could've been explained better.
All very fascinating -- thank you so much! Do you think Lean really thought and planned all that? Did Forster? I haven't read the book but love the movie. And please tell us what you think of the film's ending. I just hate it. Isn't it ironic that Turton proposes a 'bridge party' right in the middle of a failed one ("The hate it as much as we do"). I'm especially intrigued that your listenable Indian-sounding voices assess the film so impartially. Do you feel the raj had an overall positive or negative impact on India? I, though a conservative white American, have come to hate the British for their historical record and present state of extreme tyrannical Covidiocy -- ad inf. Love the great culture they've given the world, their common law and the IDEA of the royal family etc, but they've got half a millennium of serious blood on their hands.
Hi, thanks for watching! Not sure if Lean or Forster intentionally planned the movie this way, but the elements all come together so beautifully to align with the theme of the film that it is hard to dismiss them as serendipity, especially when coming from a meticulous filmmaker like Lean. With respect to the Raj, we do realize the harm they have caused and the cross-generational repercussions. No doubt their rule was more detrimental than beneficial, and we agree with our fellow people who have been demanding an apology from Britain. In this review, however, we wanted to focus more on the Indian Philosophy at work here and how the outsiders perceive it (or fail to). Very nice connecting with you :)
@@tellable You too! It would be so much better if every country just minded its own business, huh -- all empires are despicable. America (is a cancerous growth on the world -- just runs around destroying human happiness wherever it can find it, usually in cahoots with Britain. I've researched escaping the US for somewhere else, but that's no less complicated.
I took an English novel course at Seoul National University graduate school in 1973.
I read this great novel, "A Passage to India," and got an A grade point. ㅎㅎ
My professor was Dear Baengnakchung.
Very helpful analysis. I know someone who worked on the set with David Lean and have heard some anecdotes. I watched this again this year after seeing it back in 1984. I'm an American deeply familiar with India. I know the area where the caves were filmed is visible on the train between Mysore and Bangalore. You have revealed layers I hadn't appreciated before. It's difficult to condense a book into a movie. Now I need to read the novel. When I first saw the movie, One thing that utterly confused me was the reveal of Stella's marriage. Her existence was barely mentioned in the movie. I have a feeling that narrative time constraints left out any kind of reference to a nascent relationship between Fielding and Stella.
Just finished watching it for a second time after a separation of 36 years. This helped with the muddle/mystery problems that I had with it both times. I enjoyed it more the second time.
Hi Shirlee, nice to meet you! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. This is definitely a profound film.
The book has recently been read aloud and uploaded to TH-cam, by Fireside Reading. It was my introduction to EM Forster. Coincidentally, I was reading Still Life/ Sarah Winman ( audiobook), which in his style, and even mentions him.
I saw this movie when it first came out. I was taken back with the beauty of the film. Here was a 3 hour that I found riveting, not by the plot, but by the visuals. I knew then that the film was a meditation of death, The death of the British Empire the death of traditional India, the death of innocence, the death of antiquated ways of live (DR. Aziz is very progressive encouraging Indians to use modern healthcare measures). And in the film everyone is reborn. The film is full of visual metaphors. While I know there was controversy of Alec Guiness being cast as Hindi; but because he's in essence the force of reincarnation, it seemed to me that he probably was an English philosopher/professor in his past life, in other words also a metaphor.
Fascinating analysis of an extraordinary film.
Thank you so much. Really interesting. I just finished reading Forster’s novel - great &deep philosophy on every page, so much love for India and its indigenous population. It inspired me to re-watch Lean’s film and also a b/w tv version ( available on you tube) with dame sybil thorndike as a v spiritual, wonderful mrs moore. Its certainly worth watching ( though clearly the bbc couldnt afford the elephant). A Passage to India is the novel that goes on giving.
Absolutely, interesting work of art that is personal to every reader/cineast. Thank you very much for watching our take on it and sharing your thoughts.
thank you so much xx
Well it was a year of waiting but still worth it
Thank you, Guillermo, for the continued support 🙂
Love this analysis! I wish the film had included that Adela was drugged out of her mind by doctors after she was "rescued" from the caves. That as I recall, she never accuses Dr. Aziz herself in the book, but the racist people around her assume that and she goes along with it. The trial is the first time SHE actually thinks on her own about what happened, which means she never changed her mind, but it was her first time (without influence from others) facing the truth.
Right, we agree that the courtroom is where Adela thinks on her own for the first time after the cruel incident. "Drugged out of her mind" - not sure though.
@@watershipdown3630 Been a few decades since I read the book, but I recall she's drugged out the first few days (because they have to remove the cactus needles) and that it also says no one ever asks her what happened or to go over the whole incident, they just assume, because of racism. I think the book says her testimony is the first time she really thinks it through.
Aziz is more upset at Fielding than Quested, because he thought they were friends. A betrayal by a friend does make many people bitter.
Thanks for explaining the movie … just I saw it on tv n not able to understand the story … now it’s clear n feeling happy to know it’s full meaning ♥️🙏🏻🙏🏻
Hi Manorama, we are very happy that we could help you! Thanks for watching and sharing your experience. Stay connected :)
So if we are part of a pattern we cannot perceive, does it matter what we do? Is the pattern random? Is our fate already determined? Are these questions claimed to be answered in this particular belief system?
Yes, we believe our every action matters, because the world is interconnected - like a web - and irrespective of whether we can perceive or not, what we do is going to impact somebody. With respect to fate, it's definitely not predetermined. Again, our choices and actions in life are constantly changing our fate.
Want watch this movie..
Tbh the film just felt senseless and confusing to me, although the portrayal of British India was commendable and quite accurate, if you see videos of the 1920s. What is the 'mystery of India'? What happened in the caves that made Adela so disturbed that she falsely accused Aziz? And how did the bruises came on her? It's technically a wonderful film, but the plot could've been explained better.
All very fascinating -- thank you so much! Do you think Lean really thought and planned all that? Did Forster? I haven't read the book but love the movie. And please tell us what you think of the film's ending. I just hate it. Isn't it ironic that Turton proposes a 'bridge party' right in the middle of a failed one ("The hate it as much as we do").
I'm especially intrigued that your listenable Indian-sounding voices assess the film so impartially. Do you feel the raj had an overall positive or negative impact on India? I, though a conservative white American, have come to hate the British for their historical record and present state of extreme tyrannical Covidiocy -- ad inf. Love the great culture they've given the world, their common law and the IDEA of the royal family etc, but they've got half a millennium of serious blood on their hands.
Hi, thanks for watching! Not sure if Lean or Forster intentionally planned the movie this way, but the elements all come together so beautifully to align with the theme of the film that it is hard to dismiss them as serendipity, especially when coming from a meticulous filmmaker like Lean.
With respect to the Raj, we do realize the harm they have caused and the cross-generational repercussions. No doubt their rule was more detrimental than beneficial, and we agree with our fellow people who have been demanding an apology from Britain. In this review, however, we wanted to focus more on the Indian Philosophy at work here and how the outsiders perceive it (or fail to).
Very nice connecting with you :)
@@tellable You too! It would be so much better if every country just minded its own business, huh -- all empires are despicable. America (is a cancerous growth on the world -- just runs around destroying human happiness wherever it can find it, usually in cahoots with Britain. I've researched escaping the US for somewhere else, but that's no less complicated.
@@scronx Haha! You are more than welcome to India. And of course, no one must feel empowered to colonize others' land.
@@tellable Thanks.
I think this analysis is reaching. But I do sort of agree with one thing, its all a muddle, alot of incoherent ideas and experiences.