A Passage to India: Film Review

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A Passage to India: Film Review

Introduction

A passage to India is a dramatized film of a novel of the same title by E. M. Forster that was published in 1924. The film, which was released in 1984, was written and directed by David Lean. It addresses issues that came up during the British Raj (era of colonization in India) (Phillips, 2006). It addresses issues such as British imperialism, racial tensions, evils of colonialism, misuse of the law and sexual repression of the era. Although some major issues that occurred during the colonial era are not explicit, the film clearly reflects the relationship that existed between the Britons and the locals in India (Phillips, 2006).

Discussion

A Passage of India presents a story of a young woman, Ms Adela Quested and her elderly companion, Mrs. Moore who decide to move from Britain to Chandrapore to see the “real India”, which is widely perceived as a land of Mystery and a land of riches. After arriving in India, they are welcomed by Mrs. Moore’s son, Ronny, who works as British magistrate in India (Phillips, 2006). However, after arriving in India, the two are disappointed to find that there is no change from the life they led back in Britain. They find that the Britons in India have isolated themselves from the natives and are still leaving in the British culture. This image is well characterized by Ronny, who perceives the local Indians as untrustworthy. Mrs. Moore finds that her son has changed since he left Britain and he has started distrusting people (Phillips, 2006). By showing the change in behavior of Ronny, the film seeks to illustrate the effects of colonial rule on the excluded India populace and the corrupted elite (Paranjape, 2012). The film portrays a picture of how the Indians were cast outside their land during the colonial era. The distrust for educated Indians led the Britons to bar the local Indians from highest-paying positions and jobs Paranjape, 2012).

Unlike other Britons, Mrs. Moore and Ms Quested appreciated the “real India.” The two appreciate the Indians, even though the places in which they were leaving aided in isolating them from the locals (Phillips, 2006). Mrs. Moore and Ms Quested represent a small group of Britons who refused to conform to the ideas and beliefs held by majority of the Britons who did not consider India as a home during the colonial era. At some point, Ms. Quested falls in love with Aziz, a young Muslim doctor who is based in India (Sinha, 2012). Most of the Britons perceived India as a place where they have occupied in order to enrich themselves and the British economy, but not to benefit the natives. Thus, the majority of the Britons did not have interest on India’s culture.

The film also d.............