Fire (1997)

Truly Dreadful Film

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Fire is really just a 'Bollywood' film for people who don't like Bollywood. I've seen three films from India: Lagaan, Raja Hindustani and this one and let me tell you that Fire is oh so very different to the other two but this is not a criticism. Indian cinema prides itself on long, epic, large scale films that are full of colour, dance, music and wide, epic outdoor scenes; Raja Hindustani and Lagaan both have all of these conventions and at just about three hours long each, you certainly get plenty of time to realise it. This is where Fire is different. At 108 minutes, it's considerably shorter; most of the scenes are indoors and each scene only has a maximum of about three people in it. This twinned with the fact there are no song or dance numbers, a lesbian relationship forms and almost every Bollywood convention is ignored, Fire truly is one hell of a rebel Indian film. Maybe the fact it was co-produced by Canada had something to do with it? I always enjoy watching a non-USA or UK film every once in a while; it reminds me that there is film beyond Hollywood and English speaking people. I would not say that Fire is a bad film but it is the worst of the three Indian ones I've seen. When I first saw Lagaan, I was a little confused by but still intrigued by Indian film; when I saw Raja Hindustani a few years later, I was then aware of what Indian cinema did and what it was – Fire is not Indian cinema, it is a character relations film that centres around drama, love and Indian tradition being broken; both in the film and in the script.Fire is still very well made; its attention to character and their relationships with other characters is fascinating. One male has a problem with his father and his wife to be while another female doesn't want to marry yet is bossed about a little too much for her liking – there is even room for a crippled old lady who communicates through bell ringing. The way the film flips back and forth telling us these people's stories and showing us what they do, who they're speaking with and such give us a real chance to identify with them and get to know them.There are numerous examples of modernity trying to break through Indian tradition in the film. I've already established that this isn't a typical Indian film but what it does plot wise and speech wise is more interesting. One scene includes a young girl wearing a top that bares her chest, when she goes downstairs the elderly cripple sees her and rings the bell in annoyance – she shouldn't be dressed like that but this is India 1996, not India 1956; it's modernity trying to push through. Another scene is where one male defies his father over wishing to be married off in an arranged marriage – he's in love with one woman (non-Indian) and merely enjoys the company of his to-be wife. Usually in a circumstance like this, I expect the woman to stand up and not wish to marry but again, Fire plays with what it should be and ends up something else which is refreshing.As events unfold, a gay relationship forms and scenes of kissing and masturbation are included at various points (though not at once, obviously). Fire also uses clever film techniques such as lighting to display character's moods. The lamp shade in one dimly lit bedroom scene creates distorted rays of light on one girls face as she contemplates the fact she may be gay – distorted light = distorted feelings and it works well. There is also an atmosphere of dread and foreboding as the film wears on and the secret becomes more unbearable.Fire is an impressive film but it is too breakaway for me to really like. It pulls off several film techniques to good effect but if this was American produced starring white people talking English, would anybody care? This is certainly not the Indian cinema I expected – if Indian directors want to make breakaway films like this then travel to the west and make them, don't produce them through India because it makes them look better than they actually are and you never know – you may inspire every Indian director to do so. Where would popular Indian cinema be then?

I admire Deepa Mehta and this movie is a masterpiece. I'd recommend to buy this movie on DVD because it's a movie you might want to watch more often than just once. And trust me, you'd still find little meaningful details after watching it several times.The characters - except for the grandmother perhaps - are all very balanced, no black and white. Even though you follow the story from the perspective of the two protagonists, there is also empathy for the other characters.I think the IMDb rating for the movie is far too low - probably due to its politically controversial content.

This film shows what the next generation is all about. You should always follow your heart and mind and not the views and expectations of society.Society these days means that you should act and behave in a certain manner. Anything outside this is seen as shameful and a disgrace. This film shows that happiness is not always found by doing what other people expect of you...its about doing whats right for your self.The film shed a light to the film industry and films like this need to be promoted more due to its reality and what younger people have to endure and o through.i don't have a problem with homosexuals....if thats the way they choose to live there life then so be it. It is there choice.As long as no-one of the same sex as myself tries to hit on me, because i am alllll straight, (hetero).Good film.

The thing which makes "Fire" even more appealing to watch apart from its magical artistry, is its touch of femininism and rebellion. To my mind, the very character played by Shabana Azmi is a symbol of the Indian feminine protest against the Indian society. The name of the movie and the scene when Radha walks through flames in her kitchen are symbloic of Hindu Mythology's Lord Rama's wife Sita's walking through fire for the proof of her immaculacy, as per the same narrative which appears in the film too. The film could be a great inspiration for women, particularly those in the subcontinent, to search for their liberties and to attain control of their lives.