Film Review: Frieda Pinto Takes a Sad, Tragic Journey in ‘Trishna’

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CHICAGO – Transitions are one of the juiciest themes to have in a film, as a character or circumstance takes a path from one way-of-life to another. Director Michael Winterbottom has created “Trishna,” a story based on a 19th Century British novel, but woven into the present day India. Frieda Pinto (“Slumdog Millionaire”) stars as the title character.

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.5/5.0
Rating: 3.5/5.0

By relating the tale of a rural Indian girl, and her life cycle from the trap of an old way of subsistence to the glitz of the new urban centers like Mumbai, Winterbottom expresses a fascinating portrait of new and traditional male/female roles in India. They are still being figured out everywhere, but in these more ancient cultures change comes at a pace of a glacier. But like a glacier, what is left behind it is the transition, a hope for female equality and a new definition for love. The change that people go through is emphasized her, and Trishna must deal with it in tragic doses. That sadness hurts the film, only because it’s unrelenting.

Trishna (Freida Pinto) lives in the rural area of India, in the largest state known as Rajasthan. Through a lucky set of circumstances, she meets the son of a wealthy Indian landowner, named Jay (Riz Amed). Her father has just been in a severe auto accident, and Trishna takes Jay’s kind offer to give her a hotel job in Jaipur, the closest large city. The beautiful but shy girl begins to come out of her shell away from familiarity and family, even taking a few hotel management classes.

The pendulum swings when Jay falls in love with Trishna, and a night of passion results in the girl running back to her family. She has a secret abortion, and wants to cling to her homeland. But the family forces her to find work anew, and that leads her back to Jay and his wealth, but his attitude changes toward her when he finds out about the unwanted pregnancy. Jay changes from lover to possessor of Trishna, and that attitude unleashes some unexpected consequences.

“Trishna” continues its limited release in Chicago on July 20th. Check local listings for theaters and show times. Featuring Freida Pinto and Riz Ahmed. Based on the Thomas Hardy novel, “Tess of the d’Ubervilles.” Directed by Michael Winterbottom. Rated “R”

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Trishna”

Frieda Pinto
The Title Character (Frieda Pinto) Seeks Identity in ‘Trishna’
Photo credit: IFC Films

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Trishna”

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