Lagaan
| Video Review
|
 |
| Title: |
Lagaan |
| Publisher: |
Columbia Tristar Home
Entertainment |
| Format:
|
DVD |
| Rated:
|
NR |
| Reviewed By: |
Frank Fogg |
| Review Date: |
June, 2003 |
| Rating: |
|
Set in the late 19th century in India,
Lagaan is a fictional story of the colonial period under the British and one
man's attempt to alter the fortunes of his village. This DVD is in the Hindi
language with English subtitles and some English dialog.
Bhuvan
is a young man that is destined to lead his village out of British bondage.
After pleading with the British commander to forego the yearly lagaan, which
was the taxation for the raj and the maintenance of the British army, the commander
proposes a game of cricket. If the villagers win, they will not be taxed for
three years, but if they lose they will be taxed triple their normal yearly
amount. This is a substantial wager since the triple tax will be more than they
can possibly pay without starving.
The commander's sister takes pity on the poor farmers, and secretly helps them
to learn the game. Bhuvan assembles an unlikely team made up of Hindus, Sikhs,
Muslims and an Untouchable, an outcast under the caste system. Each has their
special talent that will affect the outcome of the game, but only one among
them knows there is a traitor on the team.
Like many Indian productions, Lagaan features a number of musical dancing scenes
that tell part of the story. For those unfamiliar with Indian cinema, these
scenes are large, complex productions with hundreds if not thousands of dancers,
intricate choreography, and original musical melodies that may last from five
to ten minutes or more. Viewers of modern Hollywood productions will find the
pace, plot and intertwining of music from this movie out of "Bali-wood" different
and at times almost hypnotic.
This movie is not a short production. In fact, it lasts almost four hours! Luckily
there is an intermission to refill the popcorn or soda. The unusual setting,
a foreign land during a different era, makes this movie an interesting spectacle,
although a little slow paced by American standards. Although it is not rated,
the content is mostly family oriented with only a few scenes of mild violence.
Of course, with subtitles the viewer should have good reading skills, or a fluent
comprehension of Hindi. Most Americans will find the lavish musical portions
reminiscent of Hollywood musicals from the forties and fifties, although on
a much larger scale.
