A Passage to India (1984)

Written by CinemaSerf on June 8, 2023

Sir David Lean has produced a spectacular piece of cinema in this lengthy adaptation of the E.M. Forster tale of the Raj. "Mrs. Moore" (Dame Peggy Ashcroft) is travelling to visit her son in India, accompanied by Judy Davis "Adela". They arrive to discover a society riddled with division and bigotry. After spending time at establishment events, they decide to experience a little of the traditional culture. With the help of "Aziz" (a superb Victor Banerjee) - a local doctor, they visit the legendary Marabar caves. There, something untoward happens - "Adela" rushes back to the city in a dishevelled state and "Aziz" finds himself in jail accused of an heinous crime. To be honest, the story isn't one of Forster's best but Lean has assembled a strong supporting cast including Sir Alec Guinness, James Fox with Nigel Havers and Richard Wilson epitomising the ignorance of the occupying power well. I found that the editing (again, done by Lean) missed the sharpness of someone like Anne V. Coates - a few too many scenic cutaways. That said, the major redeeming feature is the spectacular scale of the film; not just the scenery but the crowds and the score from Maurice Jarre. It isn't anywhere near as visceral as "Bridge on the River Kwai" nor the characters as good as "Lawrence of Arabia" but it is still a stunning film well worth a watch.