Heaven on Earth

Heaven on Earth is another excellent film by director Deepa Mehta, whose previous work, Water was also very good. This time, she tackles the subject of arranged marriages.

Vibrant travels from Punjab, India to Ontario, Canada, to meet her prospective husband, Rocky. At first she loves the Great North, with its snow and natural beauty. The optimism is short lived, however, as the reality of a household consisting of Rocky's interfering mother, disinterested father, and a sister married to a man without a job, bring many problems. The tension is palpable, as the financial burdens fall on Vibrant's husband.

The suffering bride works at a laundry cleaning factory, and is befriended by Rosa, a co- worker who gives her a magic root to place in her husband's drink to make him fall in love with her. Of course, the magic potion does not work, despite Vibrant's best efforts. The home situation worsens, and the young bride must make some difficult choices. Although not as good as Water, Chopra is a natural storyteller with a keen eye, and she makes Heaven on Earth a realistic and all to human drama.

It's hard to describe Heaven on Earth in one word or one sentence, and it's even more complicated to explain what it is about in one sentence. It has many aspects of our modern life which are touched so realistically and brilliantly by Deepa Mehta that few words could not describe them well enough. People mistakenly think the film is about domestic abuse, but it's far from being just about that. It is about immigration, the hardship of people who immigrate from one country to another, from one culture to another, from a difficult world to a world that is even worse. It is about isolation, loneliness and the pain of being far from your family. It is about the terrible consequences of arranged marriages. And of course, domestic violence, which is the main aspect that carries the narrative forward and sets the foundation for a spectacular psychological drama.

All these elements are thrown upon the main protagonist of this picture, Chand. A vibrant and lovely girl, she flies to Canada to marry a man she has never met. Ironaically, while people would predict a brighter, better life for a person who immigrates from India to Canada, we soon learn that Chand's new family lives a poor, miserable lifestyle. The family comprises seven members, all of whom live in a two-bedroom flat. The striking portrayal of the life of immigrants in the suburbs of Toronto is precisely realistic. What's more, Chand finds herself becoming a brutally battered and abused wife who bears the brunt of her husband, Rocky's frustration. The harrowing scenes showing Rocky's cruel nature as he beats her, reveal Chand in full pain and fear and are just terrible to watch. It's easy to hate Rocky, but the film shows him to be no less a victim of his circumstances, of all the responsibility thrown upon him, and above all of his rotten upbringing and cultural mindset.

In the midst of a meticulously directed quality piece by Deepa Mehta, with extraordinary cinematography (both black-and-white and colour) and some breathtaking shots, we get to know better Chand. She is a wonderful and among the most profoundly well-written characters. While she might represent all the women-immigrants, all the abused women who are aware of domestic violence being common practice in their culture, it's great to see that in such a world there can be a woman who is so optimistic and positive. She suffers, she is helpless, she misses her mother and her country, she is desperate at the thought that she will have to live the rest of her life with a bunch of monsters, yet she never really loses her sense of life. She does not blame anyone, she does not hate anyone, she turns her difficulties into strengths, she turns her fears into valours by using her imagination. She creates an alternative world that is better, and lives it. She creates a "Heaven on Earth".

Deepa Mehta intelligently incorporates magical realism into this extremist story, and it is fascinating. Every time Chand is maltreated by her husband, she starts quietly reciting beautiful poetic monologues, which efficiently illustrate her loneliness and yearning to see her mother and get back home. When she's alone, she imagines a better life where she is a beloved woman and wife, escaping the cruel reality but little knowing that all of it is surreal. This is a wonderful glimpse into a person's mind. I must note the artistic decision to turn these scenes black and white, making it symbolic of the film's meaning. The mythology-driven sequences involving the snake may be confusing and unclear, but I greatly appreciated the idea that every viewer is free to interpret them just the way they want to. Here "the power of the imagination" (which could be an equally suitable title for the film) receives double-meaning. The audience is given an opportunity to experience the same kind of confusion that Chand herself goes through.

Preity Zinta, in one of the finest performances of her career, is nothing short of spectacular as the struggling Chand. Heartfelt, nuanced, haunting and heartbreaking, this portrayal is pulled off without a single false note. This role is contrary to Zinta's own image of a strong woman of substance, as well as most of her on-screen roles. And she inhabits it so thoroughly that it's almost impossible to believe it is the same woman who played so many happy-go-lucky characters in previous years. She conveys helplessness, fear, despair, and at the same time a certain hope for a better day, with amazing subtlety, depth and pathos. Much of it is internal actually, and all you need to know is in her eyes. Just note the scene when she is looking through the bus window. There's so much pain in her eyes. It's just one bit of a really great performance. That she is supported by a host of talented character actors, all of whom do a fine job in their unlikable parts, only helps.

Heaven on Earth is an extraordinary, deep and intelligent piece, with a commentary on the social structure of today's world. Mehta's presentation of the issue is very measured, it's never one-sided or biased and she doesn't judge her characters. There are no bad or good people in this film, most of them in one way or the other are all victims of their social environment. I loved this concept, I appreciated the well-written dialogues, the twists and the unexpected proceedings. The film is brilliantly directed and edited. Of course, it is definitely not for everyone, Hindi film viewers might find it slow and even tedious. Those who will understand its meaning are likely to forgive the difficult movie experience. I personally consider it a greatly meaningful and rewarding social film which celebrates the resilience of the human spirit, showing people who can maintain full optimism despite their sad reality and, even if it's challenging, change it altogether.

Excruciatingly slow is the best way to describe this movie...I had trouble keeping my eyes open in the end..A Deepa Mehta movie is generally a good viewing...but this one disappointed me..The idea of the SheshNag was something I found hard to digest...Moreover the mythological story was told in a disjointed manner which made it pretty hard to follow...The performances are good...especially by Vansh who has the intensity required to portray the character of 'Rocky'..and Preity Zinta does give the right expressions..but seems too old to be playing a newly married girl..

5/10

A subtle exploration of the human mind that will be lost on the masses.

This is a film that confronts so many issues in a very muted and delicate manner. No, I am not talking about domestic abuse. This is an explosive issue, and is dealt with as such. It leaves marks in peoples life, and we see those marks, repeatedly. The issues of expectations…of survival…of denial, these are the ones to watch out for. The occasional black and white shots serve as understated milestones documenting the journey. Many are criticising this film for its lack of three-dimensionality. To those I say: LOOK CLOSER! An intelligent audience doesn't need to see all out, emotional, crying scene to justify actions. A man sitting in a car, lost in though, is more than enough. Rocky isn't shown as a monster, he is shown as a very flawed man who doesn't understand how to deal with his problems, taking his anger out on those weaker than him. Chand is who she is. A girl in a new land. A girl lost in her imagination. A girl with expectations. A girl with wishes. A girl who, in her own way, creates the world she desires. We, as the viewers of this small snapshot in a girl's life, are forced to consider the definitions of mental health. Who is insane? The one that hallucinates? The one that is violent? The one that manipulates? The one that witnesses? Or even the one that helps? I will not even mention technical aspects such as cinematography, editing, sound, lighting etc. This is a Deepa Mehta film and as usual, the highest standard is shown. A special mention must be made of the poetry. And, of course, the acting of one Preity Zinta. Who would have thought her performance could have so much credibility? I for one am very pleasantly surprised, and expect great things from her. A must watch for those looking for a real film, no entertainment here, just vigorous thought provocation.

The main complaint about 'Heaven on Earth' seems to be in regard with its slow pace. I was quite engaged by the film and the pacing did not bother me at all. It only made it better that Mehta took her time to unfold Chand's character more. Many have stated that Chand lacked development and this I disagree with. The film centers around Chand's struggle with her new life and her character is excellently written. The mother-in-law was portrayed as one-dimensional.

Speaking of writing, I think Mehta did a very good job with the story and I loved the Chand's beautiful monologues. Her use of symbolism and mythology is effective. The film is delicately shot mostly with hand-held camera. I like how Mehta distinguishes the private moments of the characters with black and white. The washed out colours only stress on the tense atmosphere. In terms of execution, 'Heaven on Earth' is on par with 'Water' (which was also stunningly filmed) but I think the former ranks as her best.

Preity Zinta delivers one of the finest performances of her career. She is like one has never seen before. Her portrayal of Chand is subtle, nuanced, heartbreaking and strong. I used to admire Zinta a lot during her pre-'Kal Ho Na Ho' days and saw a very promising actress in her. However, I almost gave up on her when she limited herself on doing movies with the Khans and Yashraj. Now I am glad to see her back on track and hope she keeps doing great work. In my humble opinion, Mehta's 'Heaven on Earth' is a winner and definitely miles better than the not-even-good-enough-for-TV types like 'Provoked'.