Train to Pakistan

We recently finished two movie in rather rapid succession. The first of which was Train to Pakistan, a movie adaptation of the Book by Khushwant Singh. The movie and the book bear differences (as to be expected) but overall I think I enjoyed the movie a little more. I'm sure that's just me being simple and liking to watch the events unfold in front of me rather than read about them, but the movie was very dynamic.
From a cinematic stand point, Train to Pakistan didn't rely on any sort of dramatic editing tricks or over the top production. It was an honest film. The dialogue and movement of the characters seemed a little play like, but overall it was an easily understandable film. The topic of love during the time of Partition seems to be a recurring theme in these films. I've read about splitting up families and friends but usually the focus of these films involves lovers of either Hindu or Muslim affiliation that are torn apart. I would like to see more examples of the family displacement or the separation of family members in these films, but I suppose that is less dynamic and ultimately less romantic for the average viewer.
Powerful shots of the train and the epic sound of the whistle blowing help to guide the viewers emotions. There are powerful scenes of death and post-violence, but very little scenes of actual violence. I believe this lends itself to the viewer to feel immersed in the story rather than making it seem like an action film. There are complex emotions and a few lesser storylines within the main plot that are addressed in the film such as the odd relationships between people of different ages, and religious affiliation. There is a little bit of power struggle, but it doesn't seem to come to a head until the end of the film (which is obviously intentional, considering the calm, communal nature of the village in which the violence occurs). Overall a great film, and tells the story of Partition in an honest way with consideration. The love story accompanying the film is a little more than i look for in films with historic context, but I can appreciate that element as a part of the depth of the film.