City of Joy | Patrick Swayze, Pauline Collins | Brilliant and Uplifting Film

City of Joy | Patrick Swayze, Pauline Collins | Excellent

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City of Joy

	City of Joy Patrick Swayze, Pauline Collins TriStar Pictures, 1994 average customer review:based on 29 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Brilliant and Uplifting Film

I've always been a fan of Patrick Swayze, and this is his best role to date. Om Puri, another brilliant actor, went from Indian movie star to International Superstar beautifully acting out the part of a humble yet dignified Rickshaw driver. And any movie that has Om Puri starring in it is sure to be a classic.

This is a wonderful tale about two separate lives who cross paths in the Calcutta slums. One is about Hasari Pal who moves his family from his village in search of work in the city to pay off the money-lenders and to make enough money for his daughter's marriage dowry. The other is about a disillusioned American surgeon, Max Lowe, who quits his practice after a patient dies on his operating table. He runs away to India for some soul searching.

The trip is no so easy affair when Max gets mugged and Hasari brings him to a free clinic being run by an Irish Nurse in the slums. While still trying to come to grips with his own demons, Max begins to involve himself with the clinic and its neighbors, soon coming face to face with the oppressive "godfather" of the community. Max encourages the neighbors to stand up for themeselves. Hasari, whose livlihood depends on the godfather, is reluctant to protest until events begin to spin out of control. Before long, a humble quiet rickshaw driver becomes the town hero.

What I like most about this movie is that Om Puri is the central character, not Patrick Swayze. It is almost too easy make the western foreigner save the day. Patrick Swayze does a brilliant job depicting this balance by allowing his character's hot-blooded, American nature to boil to the surface. In instances where Max is directly involved, the situation only becomes worse, and Max realizes his rough and tumble ways are only short-lived producing little effect. So Max inspires the townspeople to unite against the godfather, and they learn on their own that they can make a difference.

City of Joy has always been at the top of my list as one of my favorite films. A true treasure to watch.

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Excellent

When you never suffered of hunger, cold or health; you would never if there is any country that has this problems. Believe me there is many countries that has no money at all for the very poor people.

CIty of Joy

I first saw this film nearly fifteen years ago and it really made an impact then. Having time change my experiences and having found myself involved in yoga and eastern philosophy, I now see that this film hits home on many levels. From making you appreciate what you have, to understanding the value of service to others, from the human spirit and to faith in the universe and personal growth. This film has it all.
I'll take it out and watch it again, every time I get caught up in worrying about what I don't have and the illusion we get caught up in, in our materialistic world. Check it out !!

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JOY is well-made, but offers nothing new

In Roland Joffe's CITY OF JOY, Patrick Swayze portrays an American surgeon who loses a young patient. Unable to accept this loss, he quits his job and travels to India on a journey of self-discovery. Shortly after arriving there, he is mugged. Luckily for him, a poor Indian man (Om Puri) finds Swayze and takes him to the "City of Joy" - a small medical center and haven for the poor and the ill. While Puri struggles to find work and provide for his family, Swayze finds himself becoming more and more fond of the "City" and its people.

Adapted from Dominique LaPierre's novel, CITY OF JOY is particularly enjoyable because the film is as much about Puri's troubled character as it is American star Swayze's character. The harsh environment which the Indian people live in is presented in all its disturbing glory. I can't help but wonder, though, if this is truly what India is like, or whether this is just a play on America's perception of India. From what I've heard, this is a little of both.

The film's big problem is that with its often depressing true storyline and absence of anything really new, there's little to draw the casual moviegoer to CITY OF JOY. Roland Joffe, who did a great job on THE MISSION, brings the same sort of harsh realism to this film; unfortunately, the peerless Ennio Morricone, who also did a great job scoring THE MISSION, provides one of his weakest and least memorable scores. Swayze is an interesting casting choice, delivering a fine performance as "Max Lowe" (how's that for contradiction?); the finest performance, however, comes from Om Puri, who is simply flawless as Hasari Pal. Those looking for a realistic and moving drama may be interested in this film, but there's little for Average Joe Moviegoer to appreciate.

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reviews: 1, page 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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