August 11, 2009
Tried over and over, but could not get into this film.
Shabana Azmi,
Ranjit Chowdhry,
Kulbhushan Kharbanda,
Nandita Das,
Ram Gopal Bajaj
... see more 
In this India-set Canadian drama, two disparate wives related by marriage and united at first by the oppressiveness of Indian tradition that relegates them to miserable unions, find solace and love in... read more
DVD Release Date: July 11, 2000
Stats: 466 reviews
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (466)
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November 24, 2007This is a favorite of mine. I love the plot and admire the characters for their bravery. This film is definitely a remarkable insight into the lives of two beautiful women.
A great film! -
June 4, 2009It was well acted, but the storyline I felt could have been developed a little more with their motivations.
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August 5, 2008I love this movie, it shows how different cultures are. & how it is in every race. I love indian movies, video, music & culture
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August 6, 2007Awesome movie. I hated that the men were not sleeping with their wives but it was interesting about the sister-in-laws sleeping with each other.
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July 28, 2007The first of Deepa Mehta's trilogy,this movie caused a great deal of protest by hindu fundamentalists due to it's 'controversial' subject. Well directed and acted.
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July 2, 2007Visually beautiful, but also very quiet, you can almost see how the character chafe in the roles of traditional, dutiful wives and daughter-in-laws. I think the characters complement each other perfectly.
It's less about the lesbian relationship and more about bucking tradition ... read more -
May 11, 2007Love has no boundaries. Soul to soul - no matter what country you live in. It cannot hide. When you find love - live it!
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April 16, 2007Not so thrilled with the end.. (as I rememaber it.. but I haven't watched it in so long that I may be forgetting something) Beautiful story..
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April 2, 2007This is a different twist on a gay/lesbian movie. It's about two girls from totally different backgrounds and cultures, and how they learn to fall in love and stay in love...Totally awesome,
Critic Reviews
January 1, 2000
Tom Keogh, Film.com
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Works because it doesn't come off as a lofty diatribe but actually mixes humor with its pathos. Full Review
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
Speaks tellingly about individual freedom for women versus social expectations and arranged marriages. Full Review
January 1, 2000
Lawrence Van Gelder, New York Times
Fire may be a film, but its story of frustrated desires, love-starved women and the stifling bonds of tradition makes it resemble one of those fat best-selling novels that can fill a summer day at the... Full Review
January 1, 2000
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle
Mehta's direction of her unusually intimate film is delicate. The acting is notably good, especially from Azmi.
January 1, 2000
Mary Brennan, Film.com
The pieces don't all work perfectly, but the whole is gently affecting.
May 6, 2006
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
should spark interest in India's modern culture even if it doesn't satisfy those who think a lesbian love affair should burn more explicitly Full Review
July 24, 2002
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews
Although the acting is pleasant enough, the script by the director suffers from a paucity of ideas. His characters are handsomely outlined but never adequately filled in. Full Review
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Fire
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