MovieChat Forums > The River (1951) Discussion > What is it about this film?

What is it about this film?

posted 16 years ago by cinephile_12
2 replies | jump to latest

I have fallen in love with this film. It wasn't by first sight, I'll admit. But over time, the pull to it became stronger, it has become my comfort film. I watch it almost very night. Martin Scorsese was inspired by it. I had just read that Wes Anderson was also inspired by it, so he made "The Darjeeling Limited" (which I just saw and is reason for starting this thread).

I love that this is, overall, a very calm film. Even though the actors and actresses are not the most attractive of people, I find that the narrator and the main girl have a very pleasant voice (some might find them annoying, but I found them irreplacable). And the I find myself wanting to visit the characters in India.

So it makes me wonder; is it the romance of colonial India? The colourful exoticism of a completely different culture? Is it the cinematography of a famous painter's likewise famous son? Or perhaps, is this film the embodiment of life, so one feels a sense of humanity and therefore comfort in this film? Perhaps it's all of these for me. But then maybe people have their own reasons. It is also well know not everyone feels a connection with this film and therefore just flat out hate it. But it warrants a discussion none-the-less, i believe.

p h u c k a b e e s !

[–] Kammurabi 11 years ago

This is an unusual film. There is still something about it I can't really explain to other people when describing it. But it is something people will connect with or they won't. I happen to have connected with it.
I was already a Renoir admirer but this was one I kept wanting to delay seeing for whatever reason. It isn't that I thought I'd be disappointed..I actually figured it would probably be good.
I'm glad I didn't let another year go by before finding out for sure.
It does seem different from his other films, but then it seems different from any other film I've ever seen.
I'm even having trouble ranking it with my favorite Renoir films because it stands apart.

I believe I agree that it is a comfort film. It's kind of a snapshot of a moment in time that can seem familiar but also because of the setting, it takes you to another place as well. Comfort can come not only from revisiting a snapshot in time, but also from revisiting another place to get away once in a while. This film does a good job of presenting both opportunities.

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[–] PoppyTransfusion 10 years ago

I think the film marries yearning, loss of innocence and nostalgia with an amazing beauty. There are shots that could be paintings, especially some of the boat scenes on the river. The use of colour is extraordinary and of course India has vibrant colours from its plants, to its clothes, to spices.

As the film begins it feels at times quaint but as it proceeds it becomes more and more characterful.

Did you say my eyes or thighs are beautiful?