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A Passage to India

1984 · Movie · PG · 163 min · ★ 6.8 · 78% critics

DramaAdventureHistory

In British colonial India, a friendship between an Indian doctor, an Englishwoman, and a British educator is shaken by cultural mistrust and a serious accusation. As tensions grow between the local people and the ruling class, personal feelings and social pressure collide in a divided world.

Based on A Passage to India

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Details
Years
1984
Release date
1984-12-14
Language
English
Rated
PG
Runtime
163 min
Critic score
78/100
TMDB rating
6.8/10 (326 votes)
About

You may like this if you enjoy slow-burn historical dramas about colonial tension and cultural conflict, with a strong sense of place; Not for you if you prefer fast-moving plots or lighter stories like Howards End.

Pros: rich Indian setting; strong lead performances; memorable atmosphere | Cons: overlong pacing; uneven script; abrupt ending

Themes

  • based on novel or book
  • cave
  • hindu
  • doctor
  • india
  • mosque
  • british raj

Awards & recognition

  • Academy AwardBest Original Score · 1985
  • Academy AwardBest Supporting Actress · 1985
  • National Board of Review AwardBest Film
  • National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
  • Academy AwardBest Original Score · 1985 · nominated
Show all 15 awards →
  • Academy AwardBest Director · 1985 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Picture · 1985 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Actress · 1985 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Costume Design · 1985 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Sound · 1985 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Cinematography · 1985 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Supporting Actress · 1985 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Production Design · 1985 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Writing, Adapted Screenplay · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Film Editing · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by David Lean