TORONTO - Just in time for Oscar season, the Canadian film "Water'' has picked up a prestigious American honour, winning the National Board of Review's Freedom of Expression Award.
"It means a lot to me that people are recognizing the beauty of the film,'' Deepa Mehta, the film's writer and director, said Monday, the day before heading to New York City for a gala during which she'll receive the award.
"I am quite thrilled and delighted, and I will be wearing my fancy black sari on the red carpet.''
Mehta joins exclusive company. Past winners include Bernardo Bertolucci, Milos Forman, Stephen Frears and Michael Moore.
"Water'' was shot secretly in Sri Lanka in 2004, after Hindu fundamentalists shut down the production in India in 2000. Mehta has said she had to wait to resume making it because she was so angered by the actions of the fundamentalists, and didn't want her anger to spill into the film.
"Water'' is set in 1938 India, against Mahatma Gandhi's rise to power, and tells the story of the appalling treatment of Hindu widows, including an eight-year-old girl.
This week represents something of an American cross-country tour for the Hindi-language film, which is Canada's pick for consideration in the best foreign-language film category at this year's Academy Awards. Oscar nominations are announced on Jan. 23.
"It's good timing; it can't hurt,'' Mehta said with a laugh of the attention the film will be getting south of the border in the days to come. "But honestly, I don't like to think like that. I am just happy people love the film.''
On Friday, Mehta will be in Los Angeles for the Broadcast Film Critics Association Critics' Choice Awards ceremony. "Water'' is nominated for best foreign language film, along with "Apocalypto,'' "Days of Glory,'' "Letters from Iwo Jima,'' "Pan's Labyrinth'' and "Volver.''
The film is also screening at the 2007 Palm Springs Film Festival this Tuesday and Friday.
"Water'' was named outstanding feature film last month at the Women's Image Network Awards, beating out "The Constant Gardener,'' "Yesterday,'' "Miss Potter'' and "The Queen.''
