"Lagaan"
"Lagaan" was made in India as a popular entertainment for
Indian audiences. In 1893 Indian villagers are forced by occupying
British soldiers to accept the following wager: if the villagers can
defeat the Brits in a cricket match, a crushing tax will be canceled
for three years; but if the villagers lose, they will pay triple tax.
Seventy-five minutes of the movie is taken up by the cricket match,
and along the way a romantic triangle develops and there are some
joyous musical numbers. I loved the exuberant visual style of "Lagaan,"
with its vibrant colors, exotic locations, and good-looking actors.
I also liked the simple, but effective, way the film tells its story
with very high production values. However, the acting style is extremely
theatrical, and I never became completely accustomed to the movie's
lack of subtlety. |
