“A River in India” (1999, Annette Apitz)

“A River in India” is a sad sort of fairytale. It is a strong emotional story but devoid of any attachment. I’d reason given more time could allow for more character development and empathy on the part of the viewer. The flashbacks with the use of slow-motion and the audio of waves crashing, distant trumpet and so on convey perfectly the stark difference between what was and what is. An impressive amount of information is given in a very short time. However, it seems by the time we figure out the two characters’ states of mind, why they’re there, where they’re at and where they’re possible going, the film comes to its fiery ending and feels more like an Aesop’s fable gone horribly wrong. In other words, the film is not engaging enough to attach us any further than viewer and viewed.

I really enjoy the odd fairy tale aspect of this movie. The little girl is broken inside but struggles onward with somewhat of a smile. Although she has become the adult in the mother-child relationship, she is truly still a child and merely grants what she perceives to be her mother’s wish. Juts a little princess trying to please her lost soul of a beautiful queen mother.