Drawing on the truth - Film - Arts - Evening Standard
       

Drawing on the truth

Share Share this article Email this article Print this article
Related Articles
Suggested Topics

24 April 2008

Critic Rating
Reader Rating 0

Produced by Channel 4 in 1994 — at a time when it was still making good films for cinema release as well as television — Shekhur Kapur’s depiction of the true-life story of a low-caste Indian woman who became a bandit and social outcast in Uttar Pradesh after refusing to submit quietly to rape is one of the most impressive if most harrowing of Indo-British films.

A superb performance from Seema Biswas as Phoolan Devi, the woman who took equally brutal revenge, is central to the film’s success but the fact that Kapur neither sensationalises the story nor sentimentalises Devi helps too. Both the troubled Devi and the Indian censors objected to the film. But it remains one of the very best about the caste system and the oppression of Indian women ever made.

Bandit Queen
Cert: 18

Comments

Share Share this article Email this article Print this article
Related Articles

Top stories in Arts

Damien Hirst: Two weeks one summer, White Cube - review
Lee Ritenour/Dave Grusin, Ronnie Scott's - review
London Sinfonietta, Queen Elizabeth Hall - review
Thinking, Fast and Slow
The Fear Index

Arts in Pictures

Cannes Film Festival - in pictures
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
Chariots of Fire, Hampstead Theatre - review
Chariots of Fire

Top stories in Arts

Damien Hirst: Two weeks one summer, White Cube - review
Lee Ritenour/Dave Grusin, Ronnie Scott's - review
London Sinfonietta, Queen Elizabeth Hall - review
Thinking, Fast and Slow
The Fear Index

Arts in Pictures

Cannes Film Festival - in pictures
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
Chariots of Fire, Hampstead Theatre - review
Chariots of Fire
SPONSORED FEATURES

The O2

Check out the cool stuff happening under our tent such as the hottest gigs, comedy, sport, films, clubs, bars, restaurants and much more.
 

Teaching Jobs Cisco Silverstone trip

Can you imagine a career in teaching?

Be inspired to teach - let real teachers show you how rewarding the job can be.

The O2 Cisco Silverstone trip

Playing a game-changing role during the Games

Cisco is providing the solutions for London 2012's complex IT needs.

The O2 Teaching Jobs Silverstone trip

Win a Silverstone track day with Zantac 75

Feel the burn of a different kind - 20 Silverstone motoring experiences to be won

 

The O2 Teaching Jobs Cisco
Don't Miss
Gala night for the Queen of arts - stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute

Happy & glorious

Stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute to Queen
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Thais go Gaga: singer’s ‘fake rolex’ tweet sparks new tour row... but fans still mob her at airport

Thais go Gaga

Singer mobbed at airport
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon
Chelsea Champions League celebrations - in pictures

Victory parade

Chelsea Champions League celebrations
High-flying heroes

High flying heroes

David Oyelowo reveals all about new film Red Tails
The Twitter Diaries: Think Bridget Jones tries social networking

The Twitter Diaries

Think Bridget Jones tries social networking