Thursday, April 23,1992
Not a ghost of a chance:
City of Joy hurt by Swayze
by Susan Kass
The Collegian
The movie City of Joy is
based on Dominique Lapierres'
uplifting, sentimental novel
about people living in the poor
slums of Calcutta. The story
revolves around the friendship
between an Indian ricksha puller,
Hasari Pal (Om Puri), and a
Western doctor. Max Lowe
(Patrick Swayze), and the horror
all around them.
Pal brings his family from a
small village to the big city in
hope that they will find a better
life. Unfortunately, they are
homeless, conned out of all their
money and Pal cannot find work.
At the same time Dr. Lowe
quits his residency because he
can't save a little girl. He leaves
and begins to travel the world in
search of his soul. Planning to
stay only one night, he is robbed
of his passport and money so he
must stay at least three weeks
until more money is wired.
After Lowe is robbed, Pal
runs to his aid bringing along the
Entertainment
prostitute Poomina, played by
newcomer Suneeta Scngupta.
They bring him to a free but
impoverished medical clinic run
by an Irish nurse Joan (Pauline
Collins, best known for Shirley
Valentine). Lowe refuses her
requests to work at the clinic
numerous times but when he has
no way out of India, he
reluctantly joins the team.
Friendships and conflicts
spring up everywhere when the
Indian Godfather begins to
tighten his demands on the
people. Pal is tom between his
job, which is provided by the
Godfather, and his friends. While
at the same time Lowe urges the
Indians to fight back.
In the original book, the story
revolves around Pal as provider
for his family and as hero of the
City Of Joy. The screenplay,
however, expands the role of the
doctor as an idealistic, arrogant
outsider who becomes entangled
with the Indians' troubles.
Director Ronald Joffe, known
for The Killing Fields and The
Mission, has been working on
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Admission
Students: $1.50
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this project for years. This is his
third movie about a white man
drawn into a poor peoples'
struggle in a third world nation.
First Cambodia, then somewhere
in Africa, and now Calcutta.
Using the same documentary
style in this movie, Joffe falls
short of the sense of reality felt
in his other films. This could
easily be blamed on who he
chose to star in the movie.
Another fault is that the movie is
almost too predictable. The idea
of a Godfather making the people
pay for protection is not new, but
his villian is never taken too
seriously. The bad guys are
simply mean and stupid.
Dr. Lowe's character is full of
opportunity for an actor. After
having an emotional breakdown,
Lowe gets robbed and stranded in
India. A nightmare for anyone,
this doctor actually begins to care
for the people around him.
His character becomes clear to
me when I hear that before
arriving in Calcutta, Lowe tried
to commit suicide. I guess they
cut this out of the movie, but
Steven Lewis
Reed Building Lecture Hall
at the
Pennsylvania State University
—The Behrend College
His collection traces
the legacy of
Black art in America
sponsored bv the Office of Student Services
for more information cail S9M>lll
you can see the bandages
covering his wrist-slitting
attempt later in the movie.
Unfortunately, Swayze cannot
translate any of this emotion to
the screen. This is his first role
with no dancing or action
adventure, only pure emotional
acting, and I don't think he pulls
it off. Instead of acting
tormented, Swayze looks like
he's vacationing.
The atmosphere in Calcutta is
supposed to be stifling,
overcrowded and smelly, yet he
rarely appears disgusted at the
extreme poverty. Throughout the
movie Swayze makes Lowe's
9friendship with Pal seem
superficial when it should be
based on respect
Basically, the character
changes from a selfish man to a
giving person but Swayze hardly
shows any character change at all.
Swayze even tries acting
introverted around the set of the
film as part of his attempt to try
Method Acting. It is even said
that he burst into tears numerous
times off camera.
owner of the Lewis &. Blalock Collection
will present his unique art work on
Thursday, April 23, 1992
8:00 p.m.
I also think it was a mistake
changing the main focus from
Pal to Lowe simply because of
star appeal to American
audiences. Swayze has had some
really good performances in
Ghost and The Outsiders, but he
can't express the emotion needed
in this role.
I wish Om Puri and Shabana
Azmi, who portrayed Pal's wife,
had more screen time. Both are
well known actors in India and
Azmi has appeared in over 100
films including Madame
Sousatzka.
Collins is also very likable
and nurturing, but her role is
short. About 38 speaking roles
make up the Indian ensemble cast
and these people are what made
the film enjoyable and realistic.
With a high caliber director
and a fabulous supporting cast,
this movie should have been a
touching tale of strength and
although it was at times, I
wouldn't want to see it again.
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