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 A sorrowful tale with a transcendental twist.
Grade: B-
Videsh – Heaven on Earth
Indian Release Date: 27/03/09
CBFC Classification: U/A
Running Length: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
Cast: Preity Zinta, Vansh Bhardwaj, Yanna McIntosh, Rajinder Singh Cheema, Balinder Johal, Ramanjit Kaur, Rick Grewal
Director: Deepa Mehta
Screenplay: Deepa Mehta
Cinematography: Giles Nuttgen
Music: Mychael Danna
The mother (Gick Grewal) bids farewell to her bride-to-be daughter Chand (Preity Zinta) who is off to marry her “Prince Charming” in Canada. She dispatches her with a word of advice to never take crap from anybody and always give back in full force what you receive. She perhaps had an idea of what miseries lie ahead for Chand in the alien world where her Prince charming is a short tempered taxi driver and Canada a land of maple trees. But of course, as naive as Chand is she doesn't heed the words of wisdom, not to her benefits at least, despite the repeated and unnecessary vehemence wielded on her by her husband Rocky (Vansh Bhardwaj). Instead, she turns to her Jamaican friend Rosa (Yanna McIntosh) who is also a wannabe witch doctor, and gives her these magical roots which assure her husband’s undying love. Chand too scared to try them after an unsuccessful first attempt throws out the love potion she intended for her husband, which is imbibed by a cobra lurking nearby.
Now, in some Indian mythologies, a cobra is believed to be a creature that can change forms and even turn itself into a human being to avert arrest and in this case, influence another individual.
Chand who is already so traumatized with her doormat like existence, a destitute relationship and a marriage devoid of love, seeks solace in a ballad which reflects her desire and story with references to her current mental state. The recital outstrips her from reality into a world she longs to be in. This is done beautifully and is heartbreaking to hear the rhymes which are not only Chand's asylum but also her cry for help. They make you wonder about the many such suppressed elegies.
In this state of poetry and ferocity, metaphors take a leap towards physical manifestation in form of a much docile Rocky. She experiences Rocky at the two extremes - an abusive ruffian and a romantic amorist. Although highly confused, Chand begins to accept this unpredictable nature of her husband without realizing that this may be more than just a case of split personality.
But when confronted in a situation where she has justify her fidelity towards the two identities of her husband, she realizes that the affection she experienced was but only in the reflection of her husband in the Cobra who loves her profoundly.
It isn't as difficult to comprehend the message as it is to understand the story. What at one point might seem allegorical; turns out to be something more supernatural than expected. A story which begins with a message one might try to decipher as disapprobation of domestic violence, turns towards the aspirations and unfulfilled dreams of a regressive wife, and finally concludes with a mythological finale.
Splendid performance by Preity Zinta manages to evoke enough anger and sympathy towards the character. The camera work may not be flashy but is kept as real as possible, although her enlightenment in the end is quite funny, where she actually starts to glow. The movie although artistically done, may confuse you in parts, but the confusing story is the least of your worries as that will fall in place eventually. What really left me dry were that so many other characters and their stories which although setup well never really get anywhere nor does it help the primary concept or character in anyway.
A story like this will definitely reaffirm the identity of Indians as mystical snake worshippers amongst westerners & Deepa Mehta seems to have a penchant for things like that, while generalizing common India in its primitive cast.
I wonder if the poem recited by Chand through the movie has been recorded separately. I would sure like to get myself a copy.
Final Verdict: A sorrowful tale with a transcendental twist. A must watch despite its flaws, but note that the understanding of the Punjabi language is a must.
Grade: B-
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