Pather Panchali
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VHS Movie Reviews of Pather Panchali
Movie Review: Good visual drama
Summary: 4 Stars
This film came recommended to me by several of my friends, so I felt compelled to see it. After watching the film, I am glad that I listened to them as this was a very good movie. Even though this is done with subtitles, I had no trouble following the story.
Although not really a draw back, this film is the first part of a trilogy, so the ending is more of a prelude to a beginning. The story is following a Brahmin family that has fallen on hard financial times. The ever optimistic father has trouble bringing enough money in to meet the needs of his family and keeping the ancestral home in good repair. Tragedy after tragedy besets them, which is the impetus for the ending of this movie (and beginning of the next).
In no part of this film did I have trouble following the filmmaker's work. The story kept me locked in and watching. I would highly recommend this film to others.
Movie Review: Pather Panchali
Summary: 5 Stars
For many Americans, this film is a first, harsh look at life amongst the poor of India. Ray's unsparing camera not only exposes the desperation such a tenuous existence creates, but also includes scenes of uplifting beauty and emotion. Rich traditions of India are brought forth through storytelling and music (by Ravi Shankar). This simply told film leaves the viewer enlightened and humbled. Followed by two sequels that comprise Ray's "Apu Trilogy."Movie Review: Memorable movie, memorable characters
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have just been introduced to the work of internationally recognized author, director Satyajit Ray (1921-1992), you will learn that Pather Panchali is part one of a trilogy that chronicles a young man, Apu. Do start with Pather Panchali, then Aparajito, and finally, Apu Sansar.
One of the greater challenges with foreign film is the ability to read the subtitles and on Pather Panchali, it is visible and clear.
One integral aspect of Satyajit Ray's movies is that he carefully chooses the faces of his characters, and in Pather Panchali, a most memorable character is that of octogenarian who plays Auntie. Rough with age, she meanders bent forward at the waist and she displays a face with distinction.
Although she was an actress, Ray has been known to cast street people with no acting experience just to get the right face. This work parellels that of neorealism, the use of non-professionals, on location, documentary style. With his early passion for cinema one influence was from the impressionable Vittorio DeSica's Bicycle Thief, 1948.
Pather Panchali was made in mid '50s but the time reflected is the early 20s. This is the movie that sets the stage. Although the core is on the family upbringing, financial hardships, relationships and tragedies, Apu is a more of an observant to it all and we see the bond develop with his sister.
The story is set in a poor Bengali village. Apu lives with his mother, Sarbajaya, sister Durga, and his father Harihar, a poet, playwright, accountant, reader of the scripture, and a dreamer is often away from home in search of work; if he gets work, he doesn't often get paid.
The family's problems are universal. Apu's mother Sarbajaya is distraught and depressed trying to raise her family with an absentee spouse, house in major need of repairs, little money, debts, weather disasters, and it is her daughter Durga who adds problems because she steals fruit from orchards and beads from a friend. Like today, the mother bears the brunt of criticism from villagers.
To add to the crises, the aging Auntie is under the family's care. Sarbajaya has made Auntie feel unwanted and a burden. Aunti knows her time is near and welcomes the peace. Played by an 80-year old theatre performer whose character is remarkable and lovable.
Finally, tragedy strikes and the family is compelled to move back to the city of Benares. In the next segment, Aparajito, we will follow Apu to the city. ....MzRizz
Movie Review: Cinematic poetry
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw this movie in 1967 as part of my Peace Corps training before I was sent to live in a South Indian village for two years. All of the superlatives about the cinematic experience mentioned elsewhere are certainly well earned. However, my experience of the movie will forever be linked to my two years of living in an Indian village. Some of the reviewers of the movie talk about the haunting images of love and survival that will remain with them for a long time. I can only say that the images from the movie that were so moving represent a small fraction of the often overwhelming images and experiences I gained firsthand from living with people who could have been characters in Pather Panchali or either of the other two movies in the trilogy. What Ray has done is to create an epic poem about a man's life, in three films, that is powerful in part because it is based upon his faithful re-creation of the most minute details of his own experience of Bengali village life. It has been more than 35 years since I left that South Indian village as a young man and my memories of my life there are tinged with the same poignancy and strong emotions that come when viewing Pather Panchali. Over the years, I have seen most of Ray's other films, mainly in India. However, none of his other films surpasses Pather Panchali in power and beauty. Movie Review: Pather Panchali
Summary: 5 Stars
"NOT with CRITICAL CRITIQUE'S EYE but of my QUEST OF BUEATY in movies".******* It happened just like a dream. On a lazy boring late Sunday afternoon, you pull out mindlessly an old book from your bookshelf. Openned a page and start reading it then till to the last page without stopping while forgetting about every other thing you need to do. A sheer poetry, simple and quiet story telling yet beautifully intertwined of the tragedies, hopes, dreams in living of lowest family life of small village in India. Children playing,cats are playing, dogs are chasing, old woman weaving her remaining life best as she knows,cows are munching, raindrops making music on a pond, wind blowing and I bet the sky was blue and blue when Apu and his sister were following the path acrossing the field to go to see the train.