- Actors: Roshan Seth, Soni Razdan, Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, Ranjit Chowdhry
- Directors: Sturla Gunnarsson
- Language English
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Optimum
- VHS Release Date: 5 Mar 2001
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000059ZDU
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 45,196 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
Product details |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Such a Long Journey is a multi-layered snapshot of life in Bombay during 1971, on the brink of war with Pakistan. Adapted from Rohinton Mistry's novel, the film concentrates on the life of bank clerk Gustad Noble (Roshan Seth, who won a Genie Award) and his immediate family and friends. His son's independent streak causes friction at home, while his wife (Soni Razdan) is secretly practising amateur magic. Neighbour Tehmul's (Kurush Deboo) madness touches everyone in the shared house, outside which is a dividing wall used as a latrine. Just as Gustad contrives a plan to brighten everyone's lives by getting a pavement artist (Ranjit Chowdhry) to transform the place into a holy shrine, the plot suddenly turns political. A letter from a friend who mysteriously disappeared asks for a package to be collected. Embroiled in the machinations of the Bengali Resistance, Gustad has to deal with problems previously only bubbling under the surface of his life. Scenes dealing with themes of family and loyalty are directed with real care by Sturla Gunnarsson and are contrasted by the bustle of an overcrowded city awaiting war. Emotional and thought provoking, this is a wonderful encapsulation of a time and place rarely considered today. --Paul Tonks
From the Back Cover
"Such A Long Journey" is an intricately layered, wryly humourous story set against the turbulence of Bombay on the eve of India's 1971 war with Pakistan. The film stars Roshan Seth as Gustad Noble, a dedicated bank clerk and devoted family man who see his modest life unraveling when he agrees to do a favour for a mysterious old friend. His peaceful routine is soon turned on it's head as his rebellious son leaves home, his daughter takes ill and his wife falls under the influence of the eccentric old woman in the apartment upstairs. Noble's quiet dignity and sense of moral order are tested as all around him falls apart at the seams.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Director Sturla Gunnarsson turns a good novel by Rohinton Mistry, into an extraordinary film, capturing the warmth of family life in a crowded apartment house in Bombay, along with its sights, sounds, and smells. Main character Gustad Noble (Roshan Seth) is a devoted father and husband, a believer in the ceremonies of his Parsi religion, a conscientious worker as a bank supervisor, and a friend who believes in loyalty to those who have helped him.
Gustad and his wife Dilnavaz are trying to lead good lives during the political and social turmoil of Indira Gandhi's rule in the 1970s. India is on the verge of war with the Muslims of Pakistan, and though Gustad is aware of political corruption, he is far more pre-occupied with having his son accepted at a school of technology, doing his job as a bank supervisor, and supporting his family. Constant blackouts and continually deteriorating conditions on the street add to the frustrations of Gustad's life. When an old friend, asks Gustad for help on behalf of the Indian government, Gustad reluctantly agrees to deposit money to a secret account at the bank. He soon finds himself enmeshed in a spiral from which he cannot break out.
Seth is a fine Gustad, showing with a raised eyebrow or a casual glance a range of emotions which makes Gustad come alive. Rasdan, as his wife, is both loving and frustrated, fearful of what Gustad may have committed himself to, and worried about her son, who does not want to got to a technical college, and their small daughter, who is extremely ill. Little Shazneed Damania, as the sick child, is extraordinary, and when she has tremors and convulsions as a result of her fever, she wrings the heart of the audience.
The wall outside Gustad's apartment building, symbolizing the larger world of Bombay, is a far more dramatic and significant element in the film than in the novel. When Gustad persuades a sidewalk artist to paint the wall so that it will no longer be used as a latrine, the artist (Ranjit Chowdhry) depicts scenes from all the religions of India. The wall becomes a shrine--until the government decides to tear it down, paralleling in some ways the life of Gustad..
Though major scenes are depicted in intimate interior settings, effectively photographed (Jan Kiesser) to show visually the characters' relationships, the panoramic outdoor shots of the roiling life of Bombay dramatically intensify the turmoil within Gustad's life. Sensitively acted and directed, with a screenplay written by the book's author, the film is the visual embodiment of everything Mistry achieves in the novel. Outstanding!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Rohinton Mistry is a master at contemporary literature focusing on Post-colonial India. This small low-key film is a worthy adaptation of his novel.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Rohinton Mistry's first novel is brought to life in this video. Such A Long Journey is based in Bombay, 1971 and follows the troubled life of Gustad Nobel and his family. Played by Roshan Seth, Gustad's character is a strong portrayal of a husband and father struggling to survive the hectic city life. By trying to do a favour for his old friend Jimmi Billimoria, Gustad finds himself jeopardising the safety of his family and his close work colleague. The highly volatile political situation of 1970's Bombay provides the background to Gustad's story, which introduces some fascinating characters all residing in the same building. Having read the book before watching the film, the film does become slightly disappointing, but that still does not take away from the great story being told, and a great cast of characters who are all played well by the actors. Om Puri and Nina Wadia (of Goodness Gracious Me) also appear, although the latter's is only a fleeting appearance as a nun.
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