Partition

Partition Films Inc.

Director: Vic Sarin

Actors: Jimi Mistry, Kristen Kreuk, Neve Campbell, John Light

Release Date: February 2, 2007 (theaters)

Genre: Drama

Length: 116 minutes

Rating: PG

http://www.partitionthemovie.ca/ 

Reviewed By: Kaitlyn Cursley 

5 stars 

In late January of this year I was flicking though the channels on my television when a movie trailer captured my attention.  I caught only the tail end of the trailer, yet it was enough to peak my interest.  All the information that I could gather on the film from the twenty second preview was that the setting was in India and the title began with the letter “P”.  I figured I would search the internet for the title of this unknown film and then place it at the top of my “must see films” list. This was easier said than done.  I searched almost every movie website but my lack of information deemed my quest unsuccessful and finally I gave up my search.  Months passed and I had long forgotten of the movie trailer that I had seen earlier in the year.  It wasn’t until the other week that the movie presented itself once again for me to take notice.  A friend of mine, knowing my interest in East Indian culture suggested that I watch a movie that she had recently bought titled; Partition.  I was amazed that after giving up on ever finding the movie, the film had brought itself to me.  When I finally had the movie in my hands I questioned whether the movie that I had waited for so long to see would live up to my high expectations; I now see that I was wrong to fret. 

Gian Singh (Jimi Mistry) is a young Sikh man who has resigned from the British Indian Army after the Second World War.  He has gone to live in his village in the Punjab region to enjoy a quiet life as a farmer.  At the same time a Partition of India’s major religious groups has begun; there is to be a mass migration of Muslim’s to Pakistan where as the Hindu and Sikhs are to stay in India. Attacks between the religious groups are happening all over the country and one particular massacre takes place not far from Gian’s village.  A young Muslim girl escapes the attack and is discovered in a forest by Gian.  He attempts to hide the girl named Naseem (Kristen Kreuk) in his house but it is not long before the villagers discover Naseem and demand her execution.  Gian is able to persuade the villagers to accept Nasseem into their society.  As the months pass Gian and Naseem’s relationship grows and blossoms into a deep and powerful love.  Years later Nasseem receives news of her family’s whereabouts, which she has not seen since the day of the attack years ago. Naseem plans to visit her family for a short time however as the months drag on Gian takes it upon himself to risk everything and go in search of his beloved. 

Partition satisfied my craving for a good movie.  It is now becoming a rarity to find a movie with such depth and an engaging plot. Vic Sarin (Director) did a phenomenal job of transporting his audience to India in the late 1940’s – which I can only guess was not an easy one. The Canadian director filmed majority of the scenes in British Columbia due to the fact that the issue of the Partition is still one of controversy among the Indian people.  I would highly recommend this remarkable film for a wide variety of movie goers and truly believe it to be one of the best movies that I have seen in a long time.  

For some background information on the Partition that took place in India, I would suggest watching another favourite movie of mine; the Oscar winning film Ghandi