City of Joy | Patrick Swayze, Om Puri | I liked this film a lot

City of Joy | Patrick Swayze, Om Puri | I Discovered the Meaning of Life with this VHS Cassette.

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City of Joy

	City of Joy Patrick Swayze, Om Puri Sony Pictures, 1994 average customer review:based on 29 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

I liked this film a lot

Probably because Patrick Swayze is so sexy, and also because he gave a good performance, and the film was too overlooked, and it was a good story, and I liked getting something of a feel for Indian culture. But Swayze was probably the main factor.

I Discovered the Meaning of Life with this VHS Cassette.

Never before has a film touched me so profoundly. As a laid-off, job-hunting new bride thrust into becoming a housewife, when I planned to remain a type-A career woman, I was fuzzy about what life was supposed to be. On our new one-income budget, my new husband and I don't have extra funds for entertainment. So he popped in the movie, "City of Joy" for our Saturday night theatre. When I saw the horrible conditions these Indians live in, suddenly our one-bedroom apartment seemed like a palace. The job that a main character treasured so much was a task I thought only mules performed. But he took so much pride in this dirty, exhausting job, and was so grateful to serve daily to support his family. Suddenly, the standards I'd set for myself seemed completely unnecessary. Of course I want more, but during this film viewing, I realized I don't need it. As minimalist as I thought I was, what I call suffering is paradise to these people. Americans take our fortune for granted. Seeing people live without things we throw away taught me that you don't have to waste tears and heartache crying over what you don't own. There is much joy to found in things like friendship, caring for others, and family. After the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter are met, the rest is gravy. I have even less money in the bank today than Saturday night. But I feel ten times richer, having watched "City of Joy". I feel some of my neurotic worrying over money melting away, and I am cherishing everything I do have. Things will get better. But until they do, I learned from this movie that they're already good. You can't put a price on peace of mind.

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Beautiful, moving movie

This movie has joined the select few on my "Very Favorite Movie" list. Om Puri's performance reaches right out through the screen and grabs you. I felt like I wanted to invite him over. I've watched it two times now (just caught it on TV) and I just have to own it. I have to agree with an earlier review that states this is Swayze's best performance. My favorite scene is when he first sees the 'little girl' when she returns home after being 'taught a lesson'. He definitely captures all the emotion of the moment. Maybe it is in the realm of fantasy, but this movie definitely makes me grateful for what I have and awakens the long-lost little girl who was always ready to fight for what was fair and right. Could've done without the blasphemies and strong language--only reason I wouldn't give it 5 stars. Great Movie!!!

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A TRUE LOOK AT INDIAS POVERTY AN CLASS SYSTEM.

I RENTED THIS FILM WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE AND WATCHED IT WITH MY INDIAN FRIENDS . I REALLY LIKED THE BRUTAL HONESTY OF ROLAND JOFFE'S STORYTELLING,SHOWING THE ABSOLUTE POVERTY AN DIVIDED CASTE SYSTEM WICH IS SO OBVIOUS IN THE FILM. PATRICK SWAYZE WAS ALLRIGHT AS THE AMERICAN IDEALIST DOCTOR. BUT THR TRUE STAR HERE WAS THE RICKSHAW PULLER WHO'S NAME I WISH I KNEW BECAUSE HE BLEW PATRICK SWAYZE OUT OF THE WATER WITH HIS DEEP AND SOULFULL ACTING !! MY INDIAN FRIENDS DID NOT LIKE THE WAY JOFFE PORTRAYED THEYRE COUNTRY IN THE FILM THEY FELT IT WAS A NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL,BUT HEY MAN THE TRUTH HURTS SOMETIMES !! I KNOW THAT SAN ANTONIO,TX, IS NOT HEAVEN EITHER !! BUT AT LEAST I AM HONEST ABOUT MY CITIES SHORTCOMINGS FOLK'S ....~LOL~

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Pretty Good

There are parts in this movie that are kind of cheesy, but for the most part, it is a very nice story about the life of a poor family in a Kolkata slum and of an American doctor's attempts to "find himself" by giving something back to the world instead of always being wrapped up in himself. Swayze's character is kind of annoying, especially at the start of the film, and certain lines seem kind of trite and silly . . . saying that he came to India for "enlightenment" was kind of daft and predictable, and of course, the meolodrama with regards to Swayze's character I think was a bit much . . . I don't think you need to have a special reason or event that occurs in your life to make you question things or look for answers to some of life's problems . . . still, the movie did a good job of presenting the inhabitants of Kolkata with dignity and sympathy . . . they were fully human and not caricatures, which was good. Om Puri does an outstanding job here. I wish that Shabana Azmi, an excellent actress herself, would have been given a bigegr role instead of playing the typically quiet and meek India wife, though. The brutality anmd dehumanisation of living in a slum in an overpopulated city was not sugar-coated either, but at the same time many of the people in the slums were portrayed with respect, and their attitude does give a substantial glimemr of hope instead of implying that all humans are "out for themselves" as the main character seems to think. Not a masterpiece, but a nice film all the same.

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

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