Asian Film term paper - Essay Example

In defiance of what the society expects, those facing this situation make effort to gratify their selves through pursuing freedom and joy for a future of optimism. The importance of this topic lies in the fact that every individual in modern times is affected by this notion. This essay paper intends to demonstrate the conflict between individualism as a modern concept and the community’s traditional values as depicted in Mehta’s, water, Harks, Peking opera blues and Kwan’s, Rouge. Introduction This essay will carry out an analysis of how the directors have expressed conflicts using the movies as mentioned.

In addition to this, the essay will look at some vital lessons arising from the complex events of what the various characters go through largely due to transformation of society and eventually getting freedom by themselves. Water by Mehta demonstrates conflicting ideas that characterize the ideals of individualism and values of tradition relating to obligations to family and social rules upheld by society. This is clearly illustrated by the female characters comprised of Chuyia, Shakuntala and Chuyia.

These are three female personalities experiencing a complex situation in terms of two competing ideals. At this moment of history, India as a country is going through a cultural phase causing the situation to be more complicated. The emergence of new laws is attributed to a time of colonialism. These new laws go contrary to Indian society’s traditional customs which concerns widowhood and remarriage. Kalyani loves Narayan to the extent that she flees with him to the other side of river Ganges where Narayan lives with his father (Mehta, 2005).

Kalyani goes contrary to tradition’s expectations due to her plan to flee and get married by Narayan. Individualism is seen through Kalyani who plans to get remarried, a decision which violates the customs of India in relation to prohibition of marriage According to Shakuntala, the experience she undergoes in life results into a conflict which causes her to have contrary views about widowhood customs in India. She feels that there should be a situation that is ideal and capable of being accepted by all.

Kalyan earns freedom courtesy of Shakuntala after which Kalyani flees with Narayan to the opposite bank of the Ganges River and apart from this; Shakuntala comes to the rescue of Chuyia (Mehta, 2005). This instance demonstrates Shankuntala’s negative perception to customs and her adherence to apply it by remaining in the ashram. As events unfold, the individual ideals of Shakuntala contradict her apparent loyalty and commitment to the social norms of India which is in support of forbidding remarriage for widows.

Chuyia herself despite adhering to the demands placed on widows according to Indian customs decides to go with Shakuntala so as to free her from the fate that she is destined to experience as a young widow whose age is too low. The events unfolding indicate that the situation experienced by these three widows places them in a situation that require difficult conflicting decisions to be made. One of the decisions they must make for their own and each other’s benefit is to ensure that life for them becomes tolerable.

The need to safeguard their interest and individual benefits contradicts the commitment they are required to observe about Indian society’s custom. The things they do indicate their rebellion of custom irrespective of its suppressive nature. In Hark’