Haven't heard much of Mistress of Spices ??

This film was covered in local TV news (Blwd Blvd) past weekend. Interview was shot during TIFF in Oct 2005, but 1st part aired now and 2nd part to air coming Sunday. They asked to check out this film in "your" cineplex. If the programme was recorded in Oct, did they mean to check out in Oct or to check out now, I don't know.
Cinemaclock has no listings for this film.

As Water received 9 nominations for Canadian Genie awards, it's theatrical showings more than doubled in its 14th week (current week) in Toronto. It's more than 30 shows daily.
But, in Ottawa it's out of theatres this week (was showing until last week). I expect it back in Ottawa theatres though, as it's demamd has gone up because of so many Genie awards. It's also screening in Canadian Film Institute later this month. Deepa Mehta may show up there??

Water DVD is slated for release one week before Genie Awards (7th March DVD). It's listed at $ 26.99 but as usual expect it at under $ 20 on the first day/ week.

A few thoughts about this movie:

Seema Biswas was amazing, giving the most memorable performance I have seen in a long time. Although I hate to write off Shabana Azmi, the first choice for the role, I don't think she could have surpassed Biwas. If only they had focused more on her than the obvious, sentimental choice of the little girl.

Lisa Ray is miscast and Kulbhushan Kharbanda had no business playing a priest.

While the film is impeccably shot, we can only imagine the amazing visuals we could have seen if it was shot in Varanasi as planned. There is no other place like Varanasi, and I think the city and the ghats would have added much to the film.

The storytelling was choppy in places with no continuity between scenes. The Holi song kinda came out of nowhere.

Overall, I think Mehta is too sentimental in her storytelling, too concentrated on scenes and circumstances aimed at arousing pity or disgust. However, the presence of Seema Biswas, the excellent music, and novel theme more than make this film a must watch.

Live! At the Genies will air on Monday, March 13th, 2006 live on Star!, Bravo!, Citytv Toronto and MusiMax at 9:00pm ET, Citytv Winnipeg, Citytv Edmonton and Citytv Calgary at 10:00pm CT/MT and Citytv Vancouver at 9:00pm PT.
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WATER NOMINATED FOR 9 awards.

http://www.genieawards.ca/Genie26/categs.cfm
Almost 100 Genies CRAZY

WOW!! AMAZING!!

Water seems to have released in the US, in limited release (5 prints). In the 1st weekend it averaged a whopping over $11,000 per screen as compared to RV @ $ 4500 and United 93 @ $ 6400 in their opening weekends (this week).

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #

41 N Water FoxS $56,280 - 5 - $11,256 $56,280 - 1

Hopefully we get a high def r1/usa edition dvd

In its limited release, Water collections in the US keep going up. In its 3rd weekend, its collectioins went up by 53% to $ 268,000 while screen count increased from 36 (per screen av = $ 4850) to 62 (Per screen av = $ 4300 for 3rd weekend). BTW, 3rd weekend actual collections came up higher than the studio estimate posted earlier.

Total = $ 604,000 upto 3rd weekend.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/ch ... =19&p=.htm

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From 62, it's expanding to over 90 screens in the 4th weekend and then may go up to 150 screens in the 5th weekend.
http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/may/15usbox.htm

No sign of Water cooling dowm in the US. It's turning into Super Hot Steam instead.
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/ch ... knd=21a&p=

4th weekend collections from US were aprox the same as in 3rd weekend and now in it's 5th weekend (long weekend though), the US collections have jumped 45% (estimated) over it's collection in the 3rd or 4th weeekend.
$ 372,000 in 5th (long) weekend from 91 screens (still over $ 4000 per screen). Total so far = $ 1.44 Million from US.

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Added later:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/ch ... knd=21a&p=
Again, actual collections came up higher than studio estimates.
Actual 5th weekend collections were $395,743 (estimated was $ 372,000).
So, new total till 5th weekend = $ 1.47 Million (from US)

i did catch WATER in the Twin Cities (minneapolis-St.Paul) couple of weeks ago. Not a great movie IMO. So far the best I have enjoyed from Deepa Mehta is BOLLYWOOD/HOLLYWOOD and EARTH in exactly that order. I totally did not dig FIRE. It seemed too forced.

The narrative is a little drab. Its thought provoking for sure, but does leave you with wondering what was it that was missing. I think this movie also appears forced. Perhaps GM should stick to converting other people's writings onto celluloid as she did with EARTH.

DVD rental catch-up for sure cant really recommend a theatrical viewing for this one.

Saw Water yesterday. Liked it well. While it played I wondered: Digital intermediate or no digital intermediate? I suspected a digital intermediate but it looked often not digital. Then came the Holi scene and it was clear. Colors are not this saturated without some digital help. The end credits confirmed a DI. A film to buy on HD disc, the HD coming hopefully direct from the DI.