29th November,

Last week  the U3A Lexi group was introduced to Bollywood. Baghban (2003) lasted 3 hours and there was no time for a measured response. However, rushed comments were: I loved it, it was too long, very moralistic, what a good choice, what a contrast with Tokyo Story. In general it sounded as if the film was enjoyed albeit too long.

I am still disappointed that the cinema does not seem to attract the local audience. Only a few non U3A members including one  one Indian family with baby added to the U3A numbers.

The striking feature of Baghban is the similarity of the story to Leo Carey’s Make Way for Tomorrow (1937) with whole scenes just transposed from the USA to India, from 1937 to 2003.  The premises of Tokyo Story (1953) also influenced by Carey however are  very different, but the three films deal with an old couple and their relationship with their adult children.

Watch this space for comments on the tree films hopefully before the end of the year.