SUCH A LONG JOURNEY (1998)

Based on the award-winning novel by Rohinton Mistry, Such a Long Journey is the story of Gustad Noble, whose life is thrown into turmoil when he is asked by an old friend to deposit a large sum of money at the bank where he works. Set in Bombay, on the eve of the war between India and Pakistan, Gustad's troubles become an allegory for the chaos and upheaval occuring around him.

His son has become estranged from the family because he would rather become an artist than attend engineering school. His daughter has taken ill with malaria. His wife continues to spend an increasing amount of time with a neighbour that he considers to be a witch. On top of all this, the olca government threatens to tear down the wall surrounding his housing complex. Ingeniously, he asks an artist to paint figures of all the major religions on the wall, so believers of all faiths will be compelled to save it. Filmed on location in Bombay, Such a Long Journey is a rich and thoughtful portrayal of the power of spirituality and how to overcome even the most daunting circumstances.