Admirable and moving, "I am Alive" by Sudhir Mishra is excellently served by inspired actors (Deepti Naval leading the crew), filmed with tact and reserve, and filled with emotion and realism. It tells the story of Beena, a young woman married to an unwilling husband who deserts the house and leaves her to her own resources, thus forcing her to bear the responsibilities that he could not shoulder. It is a sober comment on men's weakness and womanly strength. But this strength is simply not recognized, rather is is exploited to sustain a profoundly unjust social system. All in all the film is a very subtle depiction of the hardships of women in contemporary India. And highly entertaining in spite of the serious subject. One can perhaps regret the softening of the story provided by the constant interventions of Beena's dead father (as a sort of spiritual guide), but it's true that what happens to her is so hard that perhaps this technique is justified.
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