Fire


Lesbian Movie

(India/Canada, 1996)

Average rating
Build-up:4.6 
Kissing:3.8 
Love scenes:4.0 
Movie overall:4.8 

Explicitness:  2
 


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Reviewer
Kitty
Build-up  3 Kissing  4 Love scenes  3 Movie overall  5

Nandita Das is a young Indian woman in an arranged marriage. She comes to live with her new husband, his mother, his brother, and his brother's wife. Over the course of the movie she falls in love with the brother's wife (Shabana Azmi).

Actresses:
Shabana Azmi & Nandita Das


Das is crying on the bed and Azmi comes in. She goes over to hug her and tells her "Please don't cry" and that everything will be okay with Das' new husband. They pull apart for a second and their lips almost brush together. Then Das leans in and kisses Azmi on the lips.

Actresses:
Shabana Azmi & Nandita Das


Azmi is in bed, Das comes in and gets onto the bed and starts kissing Azmi on the neck. She tells her it's okay because nobody is here and finally Azmi starts kissing her back. At the end of the scene it's so dark that you can't really tell what's happening but I'm guessing, boom chicka wah wah.

Actresses:
Shabana Azmi & Nandita Das


Das and Azmi are outside playing hopscotch together and generally messing around. Azmi strokes her finger up Das' shin and then they both crouch down and kiss. Azmi's husband calls her from offscreen, Das says "Shhh" and Azmi doesn't answer him, instead she kisses Das on the wrists. Somehow this is one of the sexiest scenes I ever saw in a movie, there's nothing graphic or anything but it's absolutely gorgeous.

Actresses:
Shabana Azmi & Nandita Das


Azmi's husband has been clued into the fact that Azmi and Das are sleeping together, he goes and looks through the partly open door and sees Azmi kissing Das on the breast.

I love this movie! The two women are so sad and sweet together. They're both incredibly beautiful especially Shabana Azmi, who by the way is also a wonderful actress. Anyway, see it.
Reviewer
Amavenus
Build-up  5 Kissing  4 Love scenes  3 Movie overall  5

Great movie! One of my all-time favorite romances. Visually beautiful, culturally informative, with a believable story and genuine chemistry between the leads.
It's eye-opening to watch the DVD special features and see just what outrage this movie stirred among some fundamentalist Hindus, and I applaud director's courage.
All in all, a must-see!
Reviewer
Ms. Femme
Build-up  5 Kissing  3 Love scenes  4 Movie overall  4

The passion of India! Finally a romantic lesbian love story in a culture where women in love is as forbidden as a meidum rare steak. Ms. Nandita and Ms. Shabana are thouroughly convincing and it took two men who couldn't or wouldn't pay attention to their women to bring these two together.
The build up is incredible but I wanted more from the bedroom. Their lovemaking is sweet and romantic and very loving. I actually cried during this movie.
Reviewer
laura j richardson
Build-up  5 Kissing  4 Love scenes  5 Movie overall  5

Fire is probably the best movie that I have ever seen. The protagonist is Shabana Azmi who plays the neglected wife. This is a film dealing with India, past, present and future. If India has not been a place of interest, this film will awaken the tiger. This movie is brillaint because the actors involved become the characters they play. The feelings revealed are those responses that would be elicted by real people, not simply by actors mimicking a role. Generally, one is not inspired by art which imitates life, but in this movie, Azmi and Das give credibility to a role they were only born to imitate. Azmi and Das are two very beautiful woman, and as such provide a wonderful landscape upon which to ply their trade. When Shabana Azmi speaks the words of the writer she ascends to another level. Fire is perhaps her best, but hopefully, not her last effort as a woman of substance.
Reviewer
Prim8
Build-up  5 Kissing  4 Love scenes  5 Movie overall  5

One of the best lesbian movies I've watched. I love it. It is such major step for Indian cinema. A well-written, beautifully shot movie with a wonderful cast. (Applause for Azmi's perfomance. Great acting by one of India's prominent actress)
This film is brave. It's passionate. It's a fact that's been hidden, denied and forbidden in its country. Everyone involved should be applauded.
Just for your information I did cry. The truth hurts.