"The Warrior"

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This was a 2001 film starring Irfan Khan as a warrior (enforcer) for an Indian tribal leader. The film is British, although it was filmed in the Himalayan Mountains, stars Indian actors, subtitled, and directed by a Brit of Indian descent. It therefore has the look and feel of amn Indian film.
The film contains little in the way of any historical context, and either presumes that the viewer has some, or that the viewer will not find it necessary to appreciate the story. I understand that the film received numerous awards in England, and I assume that it was not originally intended to be release in the U.S., but that Miramax purchased the rights to the film, and released it domestically in 2005. I presume that had the film been intended to be released in America, more history would have been provided.
In any event, Khan is an enforcer for who I presume to be some type of tribal leader. The leader's subjects are charged with giving him crops, etc. At one of the gatherings of the subjects, one informs the tribal leader that because of a drought, they do not have the harvest he requires. Khan is ordered to behead the man as punishment, and is then ordered to pillage the town in retribution.
While on the pillage, Khan comes upon a girl who wears a necklace which his son gave to her. At that moment, for reasons the film does not make entirely clear, after having erased all but two people (her and her mother), he has an epiphany, and decides to leave his job, vows never to raise his sword again. I have read a theory that he puts down his sword because he sees his son in the girl, and realizes that the pain he has caused is the same he would feel, particularly since he recognizes the necklace as a gift from his son.
Well, apparently the tribal organization is like the mob, because once you are in, you ain't getting out. The second in command warrior is directed to bring the head of Khan to the tribal leader. It is at this point that the hunter becomes the hunted.
And it is at this point that the film deviates from what we expect. He watches as his son is brutally murdered by another warrior. Rather than begin a crusade of terror, he maintains his vow. On the run, he meets a young boy who is also a thief. He later meets a blind woman searching for redemption. He leads the young boy to a good home, no doubt because he sees his son in the boy, and then heads to the mountains to seek his vision.
The object of the film is not the run per se, but to show us that this man is true to his vow, that the epiphany was really a life altering change. He does kill the second warrior, but not under the circumstances we expect, why it occurs, nor the way it occurs. So many films (read Hollywood) would make the retribution, and ultimately the second warrior's death, the purpose of the story. Here, it is merely anti-climatic. Yes, it happened, but there is no glory, or relief expressed. I doubt any cheers from the audience.
In this respect, I found the film similar to "Japanese Story" which I commented on a couple of years ago. A film altering event that does not alter the film in the way you expect, or probably have been conditioned to expect.
I am not familiar with Khan, though it appears he mostly acts in Indian films, or British films made by Indians. Looking at various pictures, he looks to be one of those actors who has an ability to change his looks, not just with his hair, but facial expressions, etc. A true chameleon. Here, he is able to communicate all his emotions without using dialog - and this film required some range, as he goes from a heartless killer, to dreadfully realizing his sins, to sadness, to anger, and eventually to contentment. I understand that this film opened a lot of doors - and I see why. He has range.
The cinematography is beautiful. Colors are rich the vibrant. While the sound is not that level, it is satisfactory. I have come to love the look of foreign films outside Europe - this is as beautiful to look at as recent films I have seen from China.
Part of the film sound violent - but the violence takes place mostly off screen, the effects of which are communicated not from the acts themselves, but from viewing the effects on the faces of the actor. There is no splattering blood, no rivers from beheaded bodies, etc. The squeamish should be able to watch this film.
Having watched the film last night, I questioned with it was good enough to post on. But this is the type of film that keeps developing in your mind, and gets better, and more thoughtful, the more you think about it. Very recommended.

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Topic - "The Warrior" - jamesgarvin 08:17:08 11/16/06 (3)

Re: "The Warrior" - zipbear 12:09:28 11/16/06 (0)

Bottom up globalisation - dave c 11:38:45 11/16/06 (1)

Re: Bottom up globalisation - jamesgarvin 12:28:48 11/16/06 (0)

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