ScreenWize

I am always slightly suspicious of films that urgently proclaim themselves be ‘a true story’. This is not to say that filmmakers shouldn’t aim for truth in storytelling, but rather that the truth rarely survives intact any artistic process. Provoked: a true story is a film of the events surrounding the trial and imprisonment of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, arrested for setting fire to her husband after a 10-year marriage of beatings, rape and humiliation. Whilst the key events in the film seem to correspond to the basic facts of the case (although even these have been criticized by people who were involved), the cinematic treatment is so melodramatically unbelievable that the title is little more than a gimmick. The truth is that this film is littered with clichés, cardboard cut-out characters, and woefully hackneyed dialogue, reducing the serious moral and social issues that could have been explored, to little more than soap. Had the cast started dancing and singing at the conclusion of the film, I would not have been surprised.

In 1992, Kiranjit Ahluwalia’s story became front-page news around the world. Her case set a historic legal precedent in Britain where she lived, but more importantly brought to the attention of the world’s media the plight of many women living in abusive relationships with little hope of help from others or the legal system. The film opens with Ahluwalia’s husband Deepak (Naveen Andrews) running from the house in flames, but the real drama of Ahluwalia’s story lies in her powerlessness against him, his family and the system of shame that makes victims reticent to speak out. Writers Carl Austin and Rahila Gupta and Director Jag Mundhra (better known for his soft-porn films) opt for frequent flashbacks to help us understand Ahluwalia’s past, and there are moments of horror here that do help the cause of the film.

However the screenplay is ultimately unsupportive, telegraphing all moments of dramatic tension well in advance, and supplying the long-suffering cast with some truly terrible lines. In the end, even actors of the calibre of Miranda Richardson and Robbie Coltrane can do little more than stand and deliver. Bollywood star and ex-Miss World Aishwarya Rai, who is cast in the lead role of the battered wife, wanders through the story like a deer caught in the headlights. If this wasn’t enough, poor voice synchronization and some soft focus camera work leave the film looking rather amateurish and shoddy. Ahluwalia’s story demanded a much more respectful approach to cinematic truthfulness.

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Filed Under: Reviews by Simon