Boatman

1994 0h 55m IT

👍

6.7

SOLID

★6.7TMDB · 10

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In a series of small portraits, Gianfranco Rosi depicts life on and along the banks of the Ganges River. The director’s first film documents the boat trip he took along India’s sacred river with his helmsman, Gopal. They pass tourists and locals, witnessing them bathe, work, or meditate. The film captures the imagination of the endless circle of life and death, which is rooted in the lives of the Indian people, and is convincingly manifested in the way they bid farewell to the dead.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Gopal Maji
Boatman

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Gianfranco Rosi
Writers: Gianfranco Rosi
Languages: English, Hindi, Italian
Countries: Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 55-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

32 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Hindi, Italian.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Gianfranco Rosi, shot by Gianfranco Rosi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jacopo Quadri shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0106445 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 10 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Gianfranco Rosi directs. Gianfranco Rosi behind the camera. Jacopo Quadri cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in English, Hindi, Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 55-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
232 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Hindi, Italian.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Gianfranco Rosi, shot by Gianfranco Rosi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Jacopo Quadri shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7IMDB entry: tt0106445 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 10 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.