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The River (1951) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The River (1951) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1951 · 99 mins · English
Directed by
Jean Renoir
Starring
Esmond Knight, Arthur Shields, Jane Harris, Adrienne Corri, Nora Swinburne, Bhogwan Singh

Jean Renoir’s first color feature, filmed entirely in India, adapts Rumer Godden’s novel. It contrasts the coming‑of‑age struggles of three young women with the timeless flow of the Bengal River that shapes their daily lives. Renoir’s appreciation of Indian culture gives the film a lyrical look at fleeting emotions against enduring beauty.

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