Day 207 - The River

Sunday November 13, 2011

The River (1951) directed by Jean Renoir

Nostalgic. Dreamlike. Poetic. Drifting. Enchanting. Soothing. These are words I would use to describe The River. I really wish I had the internet so I could read more about this film because it is such an interesting movie and I know nothing of its background. The movie is set during colonial India and focuses on the daily lives of the narrator Harriet and her friends and family who live alongside the Bengal River. Their daily routines are suddenly interrupted by the arrival of the mysterious Captain John, their neighbor's cousin from America. The girls of the film, Harriet, her friend Valerie and neighbor Melanie are all affected by him in some manner. Harriet and Valerie in particular are smitten by him with school girl crushes. 

If I had to say there was a central theme to the film, it would be the pains of growing up and love. Harriet is a young girl who wishes to be taken seriously by John, who favors the slightly older and more mature Valerie. However, both are just kids in his eyes. John has issues of his own to work out, such as wondering what his place in life. It is really only Melanie, her cousin's Indian daughter, who really understands him.

It seems like I wrote a pretty heavy sort of summary, but the film is actually much lighter than that. The film sort of just floats along aimlessly as it follows the characters' daily lives. The film is really more about showcasing India and capturing its feel, the ebb and flow of life along the Bengal River. Shot in Technicolor, everything has a really magical look and feel. There is something about Technicolor that sort of gives movies a timeless look and a sense of nostalgia. This feeling is also magnified by the film's voice over narration. It is done by a much older Harriet who reflects back on these days with nostalgia. She uses a poetic prose that has a sort of enchanting flow to it, it sort of just draws you in. Everything about the film just sort of invites you into their world. I thought it was a really neat film.

Grade: B