The film tells about the journey of three Japanese tourists - a soldier, a divorced woman, and an office worker make a pilgrimage to the Ganges in India, each looking forward to fulfilling their mission and ultimate question of existence. The film is a bit travelogue and drama all wrapped in one with characters battling their own guilt. Kei Kumai puts in scene in a composed and absorbed way showcasing the region as a kingdom full of philosophical essences, contemplating this scenario with foreign eyes but at the same time deeply curious. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Susaku Endo and It also marked the final film appearance of legendary Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune before his death in 1997, he portrayed a man tortured to the last moment of his life by his experience eating one of his comrades during war.
As an Indian, I didn't find some of the views of the Country a little stereotyped, like it is usually shown in world movies like Scream of the Ants (2006) by Mohsen Makhmalbaf & Jean Renoir's The River (1951), but not in an offensive or stupid way: just a bit superficial. Also, this is definitely not that kind of existential experimental ethnographic doc/shorts like Ute Aurand's India (2005), Johan van der Keuken's The Eye Above the Well (1988) that invites viewers to follow narcissistic filmmakers, self-absorbed pleasuring themselves for hours in different countries especially in the 3rd world. All in all, I applaud Kei Kumai and for an incredible film that brings to light complex characters and their points of view. The film does have a sense of style with Kei Kumari's direction with the narrative switching between past to present day. Highly recommended if you love world Cinema and respect an acute vision, do not skip this piece of Filmmaking.
