Search - Partition on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 11/17/2022...

An Incredible true story with Smallville's Kristin Kreuk, Neve Campbell and other actors that made this movie great but also a tearjerker at times. A must watch!

Suzanne C. (suzanimals)
Reviewed on 11/25/2008...

A sad but beautiful film about a Sikh man and Muslim woman who find love during the partition of India to create Pakistan, where there is much violence and fighting between Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims.

I was a little wary of the "Smallville girl" (Kristin Kreuk) acting in such a serious period film, but she was quite good, as was the rest of the cast.

You could probably find a better film out of India or Pakistan on the topic, but this one does a good job overall depicting the discrimination and ruthlessness of that time.

1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

"Let Them See Who Their Enemy Is" ~ Love In A Time Of Hatred

Brian E. Erland | Brea, CA - USA | 04/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The '07 film `Partition' is a bittersweet romance set against the backdrop of the bloody civil war in India during the `40's. The violence between Muslim, Sikh and Hindi finally necessitated the partition of '47 creating the Muslim nation of Pakistan. The starcrossed lovers are Jimi Mistry in the role of the disillusioned Gian and Kristen Kreuk as Naseem, a young Muslim girl Gian saves from death. As one might expect the two eventually fall in love, but can will they be accepted by a population consumed with hatred and distrust?

`Partition' is a very good but not great film about a time and a place Americans know little about. Here and there it reminds me of two of my favorite Hindi films; Pinjar (which also deals with the partition and marriage outside your faith) and Lagaan.This one is certainly not of the caliber of these two but on the positive side you don't have to read subtitles.

My Rating: Jimi Mistry delivers a strong performance as always and Kristen Kreuk shows she's more than just a pretty face. We worth a watch or two for the history lesson if nothing else: -4 Stars-."

A beautifully shot movie depicting a painful period in India

z hayes | TX | 05/17/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Partition refers to the British empire's partitioning of India into India and Pakistan [and subsequently the forming of the nation of Bangladesh, out of part of Pakistan]. It has been the subject of numerous books and movies, and is truly a tragic period in history.

The movie here centers around Gian [Jimi Mistry], a Sikh who served in WWII, and who is haunted by memories of his friend Walter, who was a war casualty. Gian returns to India to find a nation torn apart by hostilities between Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs, and teetering on civil war [which eventually led to partition]. He returns to his little village in Punjab where his old battle comrade, Avtar [Irfan Khan, who played the role of the father in Namesake] leads a group of Sikh villagers to massacre Muslims on their way to migrating to Pakistan. Avtar justifies it as part of the 'war effort', but Gian wants no part in it.

Things get more complicated when a Muslim girl, Naseem [played by Kristin Kreuk] escapes the massacre and is eventually found and sheltered by Gian, earning him the ire of the villagers. Gian and Naseem predictably end up being romantically entangled, but things are not all rosy for the pair. The rest of the story deals with the aftermath of Gian and Naseem's relationship amidst the turmoil of Partition.

Though a lot of the plot seems a bit contrived and predictable, the main actors, esp Mistry's Gian and Kreuk's Naseem, do a credible job of fleshing out the characters. I was initially perturbed by the choice of Kreuk as a Muslim-Pakistani woman, but she pulls it off with aplomb, in fact is quite credible in her portrayal! She conveys scenes of raw emotion with great skill, as does Mistry.

There are good supporting roles, esp the role of Avtar and also Neve Campbell as Margaret, a British citizen who aids Gian and Naseem.

The movie is beautifully shot - the cinematography is breathtaking, esp of the Indian countryside, the period feel of the movie is well-portrayed by the sets, and the score is beguiling.

Partition reminds me of a Hindi movie, Gadar, starring Sunny Deol as a Sikh who rescues a Muslim woman, played by Amisha Patel. The two movies have interesting parallels, but Partition benefits non-Hindi speaking audiences in that it is shot primarily in English, with a few smatterings of local dialect.

On the whole, Partition is a well-made movie on a controversial and painful subject and though it is primarily a romance, the conflicts aroused by Partition are well-conveyed. Highly recommended!"

Hard to find (in the US) but worth the search

Oshram | Lakewood, OH United States | 08/23/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Partition is a beautifully-shot and well-told love story, and this disc features a gorgeous transfer. The commentary (director Vic Sarin and actress Kristin Kreuk) is informative and interesting, and the making of featurette is long. The disc isn't cheap, but it's certainly worth the money; the film sparkles, even on a smaller screen, and the extras are well worth the price."