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The second part of a trilogy (preceded by MIFF 1997 smash, Fire) whose theme is the elements, Deepa Mehta's Earth examines the subject of India's partition as a means to deal with land literally and figuratively. Based on an autobiography, the film mixes romance and social drama, often emotionally wrenching, with a potent finale.
The underlying political and historical context aside, Earth has a universal appeal and warmth that make it an upscale drama from a consistently brilliant director. The story is told from the perspective of eight year old Lenny, a girl from an affluent Parsee family. The setting is Lahore in 1947, a city in which Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Parsee coexist in harmony. However the prospect of independence is looming, with the notion of a separate Muslim country, Pakistan, presumably part of the bargain. Initially, the prospect of violent change appears distantly removed from the group of young adults who gravitate around Lenny's Hindu nanny, Shanta. Almost overnight the mood changes and friends find themselves on opposing sides.
A beautifully crafted melding of political and personal themes, Earth achieves an epic scope while still resonating on an intimate level. Societal upheaval and violence sit alongside Ihe most tender aspects of human experience, manifest in the passionate love story at the film's core.