Customer Reviews

City of Joy [VHS]

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've always been a fan of Patrick Swayze, and this is his best role to date. Om Puri, another brilliant actor, went from Indian movie star to International Superstar beautifully acting out the part of a humble yet dignified Rickshaw driver. And any movie that has Om Puri starring in it is sure to be a classic.

This is a wonderful tale about two separate lives who cross paths in the Calcutta slums. One is about Hasari Pal who moves his family from his village in search of work in the city to pay off the money-lenders and to make enough money for his daughter's marriage dowry. The other is about a disillusioned American surgeon, Max Lowe, who quits his practice after a patient dies on his operating table. He runs away to India for some soul searching.

The trip is no so easy affair when Max gets mugged and Hasari brings him to a free clinic being run by an Irish Nurse in the slums. While still trying to come to grips with his own demons, Max begins to involve himself with the clinic and its neighbors, soon coming face to face with the oppressive "godfather" of the community. Max encourages the neighbors to stand up for themeselves. Hasari, whose livlihood depends on the godfather, is reluctant to protest until events begin to spin out of control. Before long, a humble quiet rickshaw driver becomes the town hero.

What I like most about this movie is that Om Puri is the central character, not Patrick Swayze. It is almost too easy make the western foreigner save the day. Patrick Swayze does a brilliant job depicting this balance by allowing his character's hot-blooded, American nature to boil to the surface. In instances where Max is directly involved, the situation only becomes worse, and Max realizes his rough and tumble ways are only short-lived producing little effect. So Max inspires the townspeople to unite against the godfather, and they learn on their own that they can make a difference.

City of Joy has always been at the top of my list as one of my favorite films. A true treasure to watch.

Of course no Patrick Swayze film could ever compare with a wonderful book, still City of Joy has much to offer. I grew up in a city just out of Calcutta and found the movie to be very true to the culture and everyday life I experienced there. Poverty is difficult to portray from a developed country's point of view without becoming self-righteous, but nowhere in the movie do the foreigners propose to change the state of the city. The two characters(Patrick Swayze and Pauline Collins) are there because they want to be and to lend a hand when needed. The cast of Indian characters(Um Puri in particular)is especially good. All of the actors possess great human qualities that makes them easy to connect with and likable. Although these people live in squalor, they have a joie de vivre that keeps the tone from being one of despair. This film is simply a slice of life that doesn't try to prove anything. I highly recommend seeing the film AS WELL AS reading the book.

I read the book, have seen the movie and have visited Kolkata. I'm troubled by the book and the movie. I felt the book trivialized poverty and made a sentimental treatment of it. This is because it was viewed through the eyes of a Catholic priest and he was taking voluntary poverty. Poverty is another matter when you have children, live in bone crushing poverty and have fewer choices available to you. (Yet Kolkata is a city of miracles in that the poorest can often find a place and a way to survive there.)

I don't think the movie came close to showing the culture of Kolkata's poor. It was very much a westernized gloss and it definitely pulled punches. Consider just one important cultural element: India has many great musicians who have produced centuries of beautiful music. But this film sticks us with an entirely western score.

I am in love with this region and so was drawn to read the book and see the film. But if you want to see a film about this part of the world, see anything by Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen or Shyam Benegal.

In particular, Satyajit Ray - Apu Trilogy or Two Daughters. Although more modern and middle class, Aguntuk (The Stranger) is also a much better film.

Lately I've been watching so many of Patrick Swayze's movies. He is really a great artist with many distinguished talents. I am amazed. He seems to always do movies that have heart. I'm not sure what the well known think we want to see in a movie, but I'm so glad I cannot take their reviews to heart to the point that it keeps me away from movies that are good. Patrick was living in a city that had a lot to offer, the best medical equipment, but losing a child along with other pressures, he felt he needed to escape; yet life's problems seems to be every where. He ends up in a place called the "City of Joy",that looks hopeless. Among destitution and crime he finds meaning again and peace worth staying and fighting for. A great job, can't wait for movies made for the year "2000".

Most movies, even the ones from Bollywood gloss over the reality of the poverty, dirtiness etc. This movie is true to the life and culture of the people. The characters are well fleshed out; they seem real and you care about them. Unless you've been to India you might not believe that people can be so poor and not be miserable. This movie shows how everyone can find joy in life, where they are, with what they have. Excellent movie.

Never before has a film touched me so profoundly. As a laid-off, job-hunting new bride thrust into becoming a housewife, when I planned to remain a type-A career woman, I was fuzzy about what life was supposed to be. On our new one-income budget, my new husband and I don't have extra funds for entertainment. So he popped in the movie, "City of Joy" for our Saturday night theatre. When I saw the horrible conditions these Indians live in, suddenly our one-bedroom apartment seemed like a palace. The job that a main character treasured so much was a task I thought only mules performed. But he took so much pride in this dirty, exhausting job, and was so grateful to serve daily to support his family. Suddenly, the standards I'd set for myself seemed completely unnecessary. Of course I want more, but during this film viewing, I realized I don't need it. As minimalist as I thought I was, what I call suffering is paradise to these people. Americans take our fortune for granted. Seeing people live without things we throw away taught me that you don't have to waste tears and heartache crying over what you don't own. There is much joy to found in things like friendship, caring for others, and family. After the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter are met, the rest is gravy. I have even less money in the bank today than Saturday night. But I feel ten times richer, having watched "City of Joy". I feel some of my neurotic worrying over money melting away, and I am cherishing everything I do have. Things will get better. But until they do, I learned from this movie that they're already good. You can't put a price on peace of mind.

I first saw this film nearly fifteen years ago and it really made an impact then. Having time change my experiences and having found myself involved in yoga and eastern philosophy, I now see that this film hits home on many levels. From making you appreciate what you have, to understanding the value of service to others, from the human spirit and to faith in the universe and personal growth. This film has it all.
I'll take it out and watch it again, every time I get caught up in worrying about what I don't have and the illusion we get caught up in, in our materialistic world. Check it out !!

This movie has joined the select few on my "Very Favorite Movie" list. Om Puri's performance reaches right out through the screen and grabs you. I felt like I wanted to invite him over. I've watched it two times now (just caught it on TV) and I just have to own it. I have to agree with an earlier review that states this is Swayze's best performance. My favorite scene is when he first sees the 'little girl' when she returns home after being 'taught a lesson'. He definitely captures all the emotion of the moment. Maybe it is in the realm of fantasy, but this movie definitely makes me grateful for what I have and awakens the long-lost little girl who was always ready to fight for what was fair and right. Could've done without the blasphemies and strong language--only reason I wouldn't give it 5 stars. Great Movie!!!

Being a missionary has its ups and downs, but this film manages to explore motiational factors such as poverty and love in foreign culture very well. It is a touching film, and I disagree with many of the previous reviewers who state that Swayze is outshined or unsuccessful, I find this to be his best film. The lack of dancing helps, too :-). He accurately portrays the feeling of culture shock many international travellers feel. I have never visited Calcutta or India, but this film has helped me understand poverty in its true form; poverty here in the US can't compare. I highgly reccomend this film for anyone interested in foreign culture and its effect on the 'visitor.'

Probably because Patrick Swayze is so sexy, and also because he gave a good performance, and the film was too overlooked, and it was a good story, and I liked getting something of a feel for Indian culture. But Swayze was probably the main factor.