Partition (2007) Reviews

• wonderfully filmed

  vigarspr-12007-01-16

  Cinematographer, Vic sarin's camera work takes this wonderful love story to a higher plain. His sweeping vistas, a heartwarming story and a comment on religious intolerance..all add up to make one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. Jimi Mistri and Kristin Keruk give outstanding performance with Neve Campbell playing the sympathetic British subject during the time of the raj. Set in India during the partition of Indian and Pakistand in 1947, this movie is timely in its focus on the trouble that surround our world today. I found that the story, written by Sarin, does not point a finger of blame on either side, simply comments on the the death and suffering that 'religion' has brought to the world since the beginning of mankind.

• Gorgeous film dealing with a marvelous love story under historical background

  ma-cortes2010-12-17

  Gian Singh (Jimi Mistry) and Avtar Singh (Irrfan Khan)are Indian officers with the British Army serving under the command of Andrew Stilwell (Moss), who lives with his sister, Margaret,(Neve Campbell) in New Delhi . During 1941 the trio find in Burma where Stilwell is murdered . Both of them go back to their small village in Punjab, where Gian meets his widowed mother (Jaffrey) . During 1947, after 350 years of occupying India, the British decide to leave and concede independence . Millions of Muslims crossed from Pakistan to India and vice versa , similar number of Hindus, and Sikhs crossed over from the other side. A group of Muslims who were crossing over to Pakistan are attacked by a bunch of sword wielding horse-riding Sikhs, and Hindus, including Avtar (Khan), many are massacred, but some do manage to getaway. Muslims, in turn, murder all Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs passengers on a train en-route to India. Meantime , Gian, who refuses to collaborate in any slaughter , is picking up wood , he comes across a young Muslim girl names Naseem (Kristin Kreuk), in sheltering , and decides to hide her . He brings her home with him, and shelter her . But the villagers do find out, while some want to outrightly murder her, others want her to leave . Gian asks the villagers to give him some time to find her family from Pakistan and then send her on her trace , to which they agree . Later on , Gian seeks the help of Walter Hankings (John Light) and Margaret, who does her best to liaise with the Ministry of Unification of Families . In the meantime, Naseem (Kreuk) befriends people , adapts herself to the village life, and soon Gian and Naseem fall in love with each other. It's an enjoyable romance/drama story where duo protagonist is awesome . In an epic and moving tale , as the starring fight the forces that haunt their innocent love, taking on the risks to survive in a world surrounded by hatred . The script relies heavily on the relationship between the two starring but it doesn't originate boring . It's a brilliant romantic story and though is slow-moving isn't tired . Kristin Kreuk is gorgeous with her sweet and attractive countenance. Jimi Mistry is magnificent as ex-officer looking for help and inspiration on the beautiful girl. Lush cinematography woven into a rich and exotic tapestry by the same director Sarin . Sensitive, sensible score, including a musical leitmotif with Hindu motives by Brian Tyler . The picture is finely directed by Vic Sarin , he is an usual director for TV and occasionally for cinema , ¨Partition¨ is the best of them. The motion picture is correctly based on historic events , these are the following : The actual division between the two new dominions was done according to what has come to be known as the 3 June Plan or Mountbatten Plan.The border between India and Pakistan was determined by a British Government-commissioned report usually referred to as the Radcliffe Line after the London lawyer, Sir Cyril Radcliffe, who wrote it. During 1947, after 350 years of occupying India, the British decide to leave, but not before separating Islamic Pakistan and secular India. Millions of Muslims crossed from India to Pakistan, while an equal number of Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians crossed over from the other side .Pakistan came into being with two non-contiguous enclaves, East Pakistan (today Bangladesh) and West Pakistan, separated geographically by India. India was formed out of the majority Hindu regions of the colony, and Pakistan from the majority Muslim areas. Countries of Modern Indian sub-continent . On 18 July 1947, the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act that finalized the partition arrangement. A crowd of Muslims at the Old Fort (Purana Qila) in Delhi, which had been converted into a vast camp for Muslim refugees waiting to be transported to Pakistan. Manchester Guardian, 27 September 1947.The newly formed governments were completely unequipped to deal with migrations of such staggering magnitude, and massive violence and slaughter occurred on both sides of the border. Estimates of the number of deaths range around roughly 500,000, with low estimates at 200,000 and high estimates 1.000.000.

• A Nutshell Review: Parition

  DICK STEEL2007-04-30

  Purists who were up in arms about Chinese actresses playing Japanese characters like in Memoirs of the Geisha will probably flip again at the portrayals of Indians by non-Indian actors, and could cite again similar examples whether the country of origin lacked capable actors to pull the roles off (Of course not, this is Bollywood we're talking about, certainly no lack of actors). But hey, this is a Canadian production, and those detractors were likely to have some axe to grind with Hollywood-ized versions of such movies, leaving this movie alone. Or maybe the subject matter explored here outweighed such negative, meaningless, counterproductive thoughts and arguments. Journeying back to the time of the British withdrawal from India, one of the policies introduced during the independence, is this little handiwork done by the British, which had the population at the time segregate themselves into Hindu India, and Muslim Pakistan. This led to migration of scores of people to either side of the partitioning, and with it came religious tensions, and mindless massacres from both sides. This movie through its narrative was no holds barred on this criticism, even though it too boiled down to misunderstandings and intolerance from both groups of people. Partition is a movie that I recommend, even though it's draped with heavy melodrama. Perhaps it's because it's a Romeo and Juliet type of story, with our protagonists not from feuding families, but from different religions. Gian Singh (Jimi Mistry) is an ex-soldier serving in the British army, and in his retirement from war, he returns to his village to seek a certain peace from within, after making a decision during the war which he has yet come to terms with. One day, he rescues Naseem Khan (Kristin Kreuk) from a massacre by the Sikhs on the Muslims who were en route to Pakistan, and shields her from his fellow men when they bayed for her blood. As you might have guessed, the two will fall in love amid the background of violence, and their love will transcend religion, culture, and intolerance. Or will it? There are two acts in this movie, which I thought the second was somewhat hastened, given the idyllic pace which the first had dwelled in, sharing its rich cinematography by writer-director Vic Sarin. The story's development too moved into its fastest gear, especially in the finale which was what one would expect, and yes there were sniffles amongst the audience. What I thought was treaded quite superficially (and I suppose it was perhaps on purpose) was the dealing of religion, that it can be flipped flopped so easily. Perhaps herein laid a message that love will transcend that as well, given that after all, God is also about love? Like how The Namesake made me sit up and take notice of Kal Penn, Partition had the same effect for Jimi Mistry. Best known for his comedic The Guru role in which he plays a "sexpert", he's almost unrecognizable under that thick beard, and gave a very strong performance as a man haunted by his past, and finding a future with a loved one, willing to make extreme sacrifices for his family. Kristin Kreuk, in her second movie outing after her bimbotic role in Eurotrip, brings a more Smallville's Lana Lang-ish appeal to her character here, as she pines for the loves of her life, and lets those tears roll. No, she doesn't look a bit like your typical Pakistani girl, but yes, her beauty helps illuminate the screen. It's strange though to see her try her best to put on a believable accent, and mannerisms right down to head movements, but she looks good in those saris! I was surprised to see Irfan Khan in a bit role here, having enjoyed his performance also in The Namesake, and Neve Campbell and John Light rounded up the supporting roles, with Neve's Margaret Stilwell a character whom I thought was a tragic one, no doubt if you interpreted as her still holding onto the candle for Gian, without him realizing, probably consciously aware that their status and skin colour are too different to have resulted in anything fruitful. With a one track beautiful theme song, lush sceneries, and wonderful performances, Partition is a surprise of the week, and over here, it's two screen release doesn't do it much justice. Should you want to watch a love story set against a historical background which still has repercussions until this very day, then make it a point not to miss this.

• Excellent

  sidney-272007-02-11

  The whole theater broke into applause at the end. Partition is spectacular, intense and well made all 'round. The actors all shine, the photography is excellent and the story is well told. It gives great insight into the creation of Pakistan and it's break from India in the late 40's. While Canadians have made some great movies of late and a lot of talent comes out of Canada, many of their movies are small stories (with the exception of Atom Agoyan's films) but as a movie, this for us is probably the best move ever made in Canada, and one of the best we've seen from anywhere this year. I hope it gets wide distribution.

• extra-ordinary acting and touching story

  amariitg2010-04-02

  I know what to expect as the movie is about Indo-Pak partition and the hardships faced by people in both the countries. The movie partly met my expectations but what I did not expect is the amazing acting by lead pair. Honestly, I was amazed by the performance of "The Guru", Jimy Mistry. Full marks to him. Kristin Kreuk is promising as well. All the other actors are from Bollywood and filled their shoes well. Being an Indian, I would say few locations in the movie are captured very well but most of them appeared to be artificial. A very good attempt by the director to accurately show the cultures of the sub-continent. Watch the movie if you like slow movies, otherwise forget it!!