I recently watched the award-winning movie based on E.M. Forster's novel - A Passage to India.
David Lean's movie of Forster's book, magnifies and looms large in the epic and colorful landscape of India.
The movie's cast includes spot-on performances by Peggy Ashcroft, Judy Davis, James Fox, Alec Guinness, Nigel Havers and Victor Banerjee. The story explores class intolerance and racism between the British and Indian populations, yet manages to transend those prejudices through friendship and a bit of magic and mystery. The movie had strong spiritual undertones with a bit of mystery. Juxtaposing these elements against class snobbery was interesting to watch.
What intrigued me the most, was David Lean's telling of the story with his cinematic vision and film editing cuts. He had been a movie editor (like myself) before becoming a director, and that gave him the technical skills and vision to know exactly what shots he needed for each scene. He also had great vision for compelling scenes and knew how to direct the audience attention to what was important. At that time, movies were shot for real, and what an effort to shoot this entire movie in India. Locations include Bangalore, and I particularly love the scenes in Kashmir - enchanting and beautiful. I will watch this classic again, plus take another look at his other movies including Lawrence of Arabia, and The Bridge at the River Kwai - through an appreciative eye as both audience and film editor (film editor I am, famous I am not!). - L.C. Lyon
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