Jean Renoir's gentle, meandering film is about three young women coming of age and awakening to romantic and sexual desires while growing up in India.
The film is a little bit reminiscent of "Pather Panchali" in its attempts to capture the day-to-day life of Indian culture and of "Black Narcissus" in its story about a virile man who upsets the delicate emotional balance of a bunch of young women. But it has more artificial dramatic narrative imposed on it than "Pather Panchali," and it treats its story with much less gusto than "Black Narcissus," so it ends up feeling a bit pale compared to either film. I just didn't care all that much about who (or whether anyone) ended up with the appealing American who throws this group of women into a tizzy. I did, however, enjoy the parts of the film that are closer to documentary or travelogue, explaining Indian customs and traditions, all captured in restored Technicolor.
I think the other Renoir movie this one reminded me of most is "The Southerner," obviously not in its setting or even plot, but in the mood and the way it goes about telling its story. But I was riveted by "The Southerner" while I found myself merely admiring "The River."
Grade: B
The film is a little bit reminiscent of "Pather Panchali" in its attempts to capture the day-to-day life of Indian culture and of "Black Narcissus" in its story about a virile man who upsets the delicate emotional balance of a bunch of young women. But it has more artificial dramatic narrative imposed on it than "Pather Panchali," and it treats its story with much less gusto than "Black Narcissus," so it ends up feeling a bit pale compared to either film. I just didn't care all that much about who (or whether anyone) ended up with the appealing American who throws this group of women into a tizzy. I did, however, enjoy the parts of the film that are closer to documentary or travelogue, explaining Indian customs and traditions, all captured in restored Technicolor.
I think the other Renoir movie this one reminded me of most is "The Southerner," obviously not in its setting or even plot, but in the mood and the way it goes about telling its story. But I was riveted by "The Southerner" while I found myself merely admiring "The River."
Grade: B