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Patrick Swayze, Pauline Collins, Om Puri, Shabana Azmi, Art Malik ... see more see more... , Ayesha Dharker , Santu Chowdhury , Imran Badsah Khan , Nabil Shaban , Debotosh Ghosh , Shyamanand Jalan , Charu Bala Chokshi , Sam Wanamaker , Subrata Sen Sharma , Anjan Dutt , Ravi Jhankal , Sunil Mukherjee , Priscilla John , Masood Akhtar , Baroon Chakraborty , Debatosh Ghosh

In this drama, a wealthy American doctor learns some important lessons about life in one of the poorest cities on Earth. Max Lowe (Patrick Swayze) is a Houston surgeon who has grown weary of the burea... read more read more...ucracy of American medicine. When he loses a patient on the operating table, Max impulsively decides to leave America and travel to India in the hope of "finding himself." Not long after he arrives in Calcutta, Max is attacked by a group of thugs and left without money or a passport. However, a man named Hasari (Om Puri) comes to Max's rescue. Hasari had left his farming community to come to the city, only to be overwhelmed by its dirt, crime, and overcrowding. Despite their poverty, Hasari and his family take Max in and bring him to a medical clinic in the City of Joy, one of the poorest slums in the city. The clinic is run by Joan Bethel (Pauline Collins), an Irish-American nun who urges Max to use his skills to help the people of Calcutta who so desperately need it. Max signs on, and he finds that the experience changes his life. City of Joy was based on a novel by Dominique Lapierre. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

70% liked it

6,058 ratings

Critics

57% liked it

14 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 15 min.

Directed by: Roland Joffé

Release Date: April 15, 1992

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DVD Release Date: April 6, 2004

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Stats: 234 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (234)

  • sainttom93
    December 6, 2008
    sainttom93
    A fantastic depiction of the struggles of the Poor in Calcutta
  • deano
    August 26, 2007
    deano
    Patrick Swayze's character and story are a bit contrived, but the film is saved by Om Puri's superb performance as a fearful farmer who becomes a hero.
  • jam233
    May 26, 2010
    jam233
    It is a rather predictable story, and I think the role is a little over the head of Patrick Swayze, but he does give it a good effort, Beautiful location filming in Calcutta, India and the cinematography is fine. Nicely developed characters, but they don?t always ring true. It?s ... read morealso a little overlong, a little more editing would have helped.
  • tracibanville
    March 20, 2010
    tracibanville
    AN AMERICAN DOCTOR,STRANDED IN INDIA MAKES FRIENDS WITH AN IRISH NUN AND THE PEOPLE SHE CARES FOR IN A POOR NEIGHBORHOOD KNOWN IRONICALLY AS THE CITY OF JOY.
  • juliac1214
    May 29, 2009
    juliac1214
    Probably Swayze's finest movie, City of Joy exposes life in Calcuttan ghettos in the 90's. Despite it's interesting storyline, City of Joy is composed of stereotypical dialogue and the all too familiar "man on the road to redemption" theme. It's saving grace is its focus on the l... read moreives of the Indian people rather than the new white man in town.
  • clooneyfan
    August 2, 2008
    clooneyfan
    A disgruntled American doctor goes to India to find enlightenment. Not one of Swayze's better films but I enjoyed storyline about the rickshaw driver and his family.
  • lavenderfawn
    August 10, 2007
    lavenderfawn
    I normally am not a fan, but Patrick Swayze is awesome in this film. It is a sweet, enjoyable movie with sadness and joy.
  • MovieGuruDude72
    July 18, 2007
    MovieGuruDude72
    The movie that signaled the end of Patrick Swayze's post-Dirty Dancing popularity. A boring and trite film.

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Critic Reviews

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 29, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Shows how two men experience the enhancement of their lives by caring, commitment, and community. Full Review

James Sanford
July 29, 2002
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

"well-intentioned but mostly bland"

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

No review available.

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

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Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

April 15, 1992
Entertainment Weekly

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Chuck O'Leary
October 8, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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