Miriam Wells

It was disturbing. It was an excellent film but I can't say that I liked it. You do start watching hoping for an uplifting tale where a poor boy from any village in India really does become a glorious success story through dint of his own efforts. Then reality hits both him and the viewer. The obstacles are almost insurmountable. I do not think the movie was glorifying what he did in any way - it shows the descent of his mind and the venality of his experiences which brings him to that point. It wasn't a moralistic tale advocating any particular political system- they show the 'great socialist leader' in an equally bad light. Personally I haven't experienced that corruption in India but I have heard many tales from my husband's relatives who say that they have had to pay people off for things like removing squatters from vacant properties etc. We have also had experience with a good family friend being murdered by their servant.