Such a Long Journey (1998)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Sturla Gunnarsson

Writers:

Rohinton Mistry (novel)
Sooni Taraporevala (writer)

Release Date:

15 October 1999 (UK)

Plot:

Circa 1971, Gustad Noble lives in a one bedroom hall rented apartment in Byculla, Bombay. He travels...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel | Independent Film

Awards:

4 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Roshan Seth	...	Gustad Noble
Soni Razdan	...	Dilnavaz Noble
Om Puri	...	Ghulam Mohamed
Naseeruddin Shah	...	Major Jimmy Bilimoria
Ranjit Chowdhry	...	Pavement Artist
Sam Dastor	...	Dinshawji
Kurush Deboo	...	Tehmul
Pearl Padamsee	...	Mrs. Kutpitia
Vrajesh Hirjee	...	Sohrab Noble
Shazneed Damania	...	Roshan Noble
Kurush Dastur	...	Darius Noble
Noshirwan Jehangir	...	Inspector Bamji
Dinyar Contractor	...	Rabadi
Souad Faress	...	Mrs. Rabadi
Shivani Jha	...	Jasmine Rabadi

Also Known As:

Un si long voyage (Canada: French title)

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

UK | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Company:

Amy International Artists

Soundtrack:

Ni main yaar manana ni

Intelligent and entertaining.

This beautifully filmed movie is an intelligent and tightly-plotted exploration of the disintegration of the family and working life of an Indian man of high principles, but low tolerance. Set in 1971 Bombay, it features a masterful performance from Roshan Seth, and superb support from a cast made up of lesser-known Indian actors.

Seth's character, Gustad Noble, is initially a passive character, swept up by events that overtake his life, greeting each development with a combination of bewilderment and anger, or meek acceptance. But, his gradual (and subtle) transformation as events unfold, enriches his character, creating a complex and multi-layered screen persona that lingers in the memory long after the end credits.

The film's deliberately casual pace initially complements the flawless attention to detail, but perhaps fails to gather the modest increase in momentum required to bring the story to a truly satisfactory conclusion.

The photography is superb throughout, whether bathed in a golden hue as Gustad reflects on a childhood he recalls as idyllic, or capturing the vibrant bustle and colour of Bombay's crowded streets.

Perhaps my only quibble about this otherwise highly recommended movie is the way in which Gustad's sensible and down-to-earth wife falls under the influence of a witch-like neighbour in her wish for her eldest son to return home.