Neorealism has always owed more to melodrama than some of its purveyors and admirers are willing to admit, but Satyajit Ray unreservedly acknowledged the influence of the latter in his Apu Trilogy. Starting with 1955’s Pather Panchali, his feature debut, Ray crafted a stark vision of India’s transition into the modern age that still offset its most unvarnished observations with a sense of poetry that lent classical grandeur to intimate storytelling.
When Apu’s father, Harihar (Kanu Banerjee), develops a high fever and perishes near the start of 1956’s Aparajito, Ray initially illuminates the banality of such a commonplace, senseless death by focusing on the priest’s ragged breathing and futile attempts to rally himself. When Harihar asks for some water from the Ganges, though, the adolescent Apu’s (Pinaki Sengupta) sprint to and from the river gives the film an operatic feel, culminating in a dying breath matched...
When Apu’s father, Harihar (Kanu Banerjee), develops a high fever and perishes near the start of 1956’s Aparajito, Ray initially illuminates the banality of such a commonplace, senseless death by focusing on the priest’s ragged breathing and futile attempts to rally himself. When Harihar asks for some water from the Ganges, though, the adolescent Apu’s (Pinaki Sengupta) sprint to and from the river gives the film an operatic feel, culminating in a dying breath matched...
- 1/20/2024
- by Jake Cole
- Slant Magazine
Pather Panchali/Aparajito/Apur Sansar
Written and directed by Satyajit Ray
India, 1955/1956/1959
The Criterion Collection set of Satyajit Ray’s Apu trilogy has been one of the more eagerly anticipated releases in recent years. These masterworks of world cinema, widely acclaimed for decades, have been long overdue a much-deserved superior treatment on home video. Now though, benefitting from a 4K digital restoration by the Academy Film Archive and L’Immagine Ritrovata, and with a wealth of bonus features, these exceptional films are available in the superb presentation so many have been waiting for.
But to start at the source, such a treatment would not have been warranted in the first place were the films themselves not so remarkable, and that they most certainly are. As no less an authority than Akira Kurosawa puts it, “To have not seen the films of Ray is to have lived in the world without...
Written and directed by Satyajit Ray
India, 1955/1956/1959
The Criterion Collection set of Satyajit Ray’s Apu trilogy has been one of the more eagerly anticipated releases in recent years. These masterworks of world cinema, widely acclaimed for decades, have been long overdue a much-deserved superior treatment on home video. Now though, benefitting from a 4K digital restoration by the Academy Film Archive and L’Immagine Ritrovata, and with a wealth of bonus features, these exceptional films are available in the superb presentation so many have been waiting for.
But to start at the source, such a treatment would not have been warranted in the first place were the films themselves not so remarkable, and that they most certainly are. As no less an authority than Akira Kurosawa puts it, “To have not seen the films of Ray is to have lived in the world without...
- 11/24/2015
- by Jeremy Carr
- SoundOnSight
Chicago – In between the second and third installments of his infamous “Apu Trilogy,” Bengali master of cinema Satyajit Ray made two films that were striking departures from his signature portrait of poverty-stricken youth. The first was 1958’s failed comedy “The Philosopher’s Stone” (sorry, Potterheads, no relation) and the second was 1959’s masterpiece, “The Music Room.”
This landmark classic is brought to electrifying life by Criterion’s magnificent digital restoration. The renewed picture quality allows Ray’s elegant visual poetry to be savored like never before. Without changing locations or resorting to heavy-handed symbolism, Ray is able to explore the decline of feudalism by depicting the life of a once-wealthy aristocrat whose bloodline is literally washed away by the ever-encroaching waters of the Ganges.
Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0
Unlike Indian filmmakers of the day, Ray sought to integrate action and music into his narrative rather than feature them as separate entities.
This landmark classic is brought to electrifying life by Criterion’s magnificent digital restoration. The renewed picture quality allows Ray’s elegant visual poetry to be savored like never before. Without changing locations or resorting to heavy-handed symbolism, Ray is able to explore the decline of feudalism by depicting the life of a once-wealthy aristocrat whose bloodline is literally washed away by the ever-encroaching waters of the Ganges.
Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0
Unlike Indian filmmakers of the day, Ray sought to integrate action and music into his narrative rather than feature them as separate entities.
- 7/27/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Hitting movie theaters this weekend:
Captain America: The First Avenger - Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Tommy Lee Jones
Friends with Benefits - Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Patricia Clarkson
Movie of the Week
Friends with Benefits
The Stars: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Patricia Clarkson
The Plot: A guy (Timberlake) and girl (Kunis) try to keep their relationship strictly physical, but it’s not long before they learn that they want something more.
The Buzz: Hmm, this premise is strangely familiar, and comes with an even more docile cast than No Strings Attached. I still have some faith in the film itself though, as director Will Gluck’s previous entry was the excellent Easy A. Still, Gluck didn’t write Easy A, and that’s what was great about that film, the writing. Two new relatively untested writers penned Friends with Benefits – yeah, I’m right back to doubting this film. But...
Captain America: The First Avenger - Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Tommy Lee Jones
Friends with Benefits - Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Patricia Clarkson
Movie of the Week
Friends with Benefits
The Stars: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Patricia Clarkson
The Plot: A guy (Timberlake) and girl (Kunis) try to keep their relationship strictly physical, but it’s not long before they learn that they want something more.
The Buzz: Hmm, this premise is strangely familiar, and comes with an even more docile cast than No Strings Attached. I still have some faith in the film itself though, as director Will Gluck’s previous entry was the excellent Easy A. Still, Gluck didn’t write Easy A, and that’s what was great about that film, the writing. Two new relatively untested writers penned Friends with Benefits – yeah, I’m right back to doubting this film. But...
- 7/20/2011
- by Aaron Ruffcorn
- The Scorecard Review
Rank the week of July 19th’s Blu-ray and DVD new releases against the best films of all-time: New Releases Limitless
(DVD & Blu-ray | PG13 | 201)
Flickchart Ranking: #1890
Times Ranked: 3217
Win Percentage: 51%
Top-20 Rankings: 12
Directed By: Neil Burger
Starring: Bradley Cooper • Robert De Niro • Abbie Cornish • Anna Friel • Andrew Howard
Genres: Psychological Sci-Fi • Psychological Thriller • Science Fiction • Thriller
Rank This Movie
Take Me Home Tonight
(DVD & Blu-ray | R | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #5722
Times Ranked: 1234
Win Percentage: 49%
Top-20 Rankings: 2
Directed By: Michael Dowse
Starring: Topher Grace • Anna Faris • Dan Fogler • Teresa Palmer • Chris Pratt
Genres: Comedy • Comedy Drama • Coming-of-Age • Drama • Period Film • Romance • Romantic Comedy • Romantic Drama
Rank This Movie
The Reef
(DVD & Blu-ray | Nr | 2010)
Flickchart Ranking: #10667
Times Ranked: 152
Win Percentage: 47%
Top-20 Rankings: 2
Directed By: Andrew Traucki
Starring: Adrienne Pickering • Gyton Grantley • Zoe Naylor • Damian Walshe-Howling • Kieran Darcy-Smith
Genres: Horror • Natural Horror • Thriller
Rank This Movie
Tekken
(DVD & Blu-ray | Nr | 2010)
Flickchart Ranking: #9314
Times Ranked: 332
Win...
(DVD & Blu-ray | PG13 | 201)
Flickchart Ranking: #1890
Times Ranked: 3217
Win Percentage: 51%
Top-20 Rankings: 12
Directed By: Neil Burger
Starring: Bradley Cooper • Robert De Niro • Abbie Cornish • Anna Friel • Andrew Howard
Genres: Psychological Sci-Fi • Psychological Thriller • Science Fiction • Thriller
Rank This Movie
Take Me Home Tonight
(DVD & Blu-ray | R | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #5722
Times Ranked: 1234
Win Percentage: 49%
Top-20 Rankings: 2
Directed By: Michael Dowse
Starring: Topher Grace • Anna Faris • Dan Fogler • Teresa Palmer • Chris Pratt
Genres: Comedy • Comedy Drama • Coming-of-Age • Drama • Period Film • Romance • Romantic Comedy • Romantic Drama
Rank This Movie
The Reef
(DVD & Blu-ray | Nr | 2010)
Flickchart Ranking: #10667
Times Ranked: 152
Win Percentage: 47%
Top-20 Rankings: 2
Directed By: Andrew Traucki
Starring: Adrienne Pickering • Gyton Grantley • Zoe Naylor • Damian Walshe-Howling • Kieran Darcy-Smith
Genres: Horror • Natural Horror • Thriller
Rank This Movie
Tekken
(DVD & Blu-ray | Nr | 2010)
Flickchart Ranking: #9314
Times Ranked: 332
Win...
- 7/19/2011
- by Jonathan Hardesty
- Flickchart
Jalsaghar (The Music Room) (1958) directed, written and produced by Satyajit Ray will be presented by The Film Foundation and American Express as part of "20 Years/20 Films" at the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival. Now in its 16th year, the festival will take place from June 17-27, 2010 in downtown Los Angeles.
Starring Chhabi Biswas, Padmadevi, Pinaki Sengupta, the festival website describes the film as - “A turn of the century Indian aristocrat's wealth is dwindling, yet he continues to spend his fortune on lavish music concerts in his decaying mansion in Satyajit Ray's elegiac 1958 classic.”
Supriyo Sen’s acclaimed short film Wagah will be screened in the section for Short films at the festival.
The Kids Are All Right directed by Lisa Cholodenko will open the festival while Despicable Me by Chris Renaud will be the closing film of the festival. Film Independent's Los Angeles Film Festival will present more than 200 features,...
Starring Chhabi Biswas, Padmadevi, Pinaki Sengupta, the festival website describes the film as - “A turn of the century Indian aristocrat's wealth is dwindling, yet he continues to spend his fortune on lavish music concerts in his decaying mansion in Satyajit Ray's elegiac 1958 classic.”
Supriyo Sen’s acclaimed short film Wagah will be screened in the section for Short films at the festival.
The Kids Are All Right directed by Lisa Cholodenko will open the festival while Despicable Me by Chris Renaud will be the closing film of the festival. Film Independent's Los Angeles Film Festival will present more than 200 features,...
- 5/4/2010
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Rs 1,099.00 Shipping Time: in 7 Days Shipping Region: India Shipping Cost: Rs.35 Colour/B&W: B&W Dearcinema Recommends
The Director
Satyajit Ray is considered as the pioneer of Indian Film and culture. He is also regarded as one of the most distinguished cine personalities of the world. Satyajit has created many epoch-making films including Pather Panchali, Hirak Rajar Deshe, Ashani Sankiet, Aparajito, Jalshaghar etc. Apart from film direction he has made important contribution in the field of literary arena. His science fictions and detective stories have earned immense popularity among many readers. Ray has received many unique prizes from the country and abroad. He is the first cultural personality of India to earn the most coveted ‘Bharat Ratna’ award. Even the Government of France has attributed him with the highest award of the country. He is the only Indian film personality to win the Oscars.
Set Of 3 (Three) DVD's
1) Abhijan...
The Director
Satyajit Ray is considered as the pioneer of Indian Film and culture. He is also regarded as one of the most distinguished cine personalities of the world. Satyajit has created many epoch-making films including Pather Panchali, Hirak Rajar Deshe, Ashani Sankiet, Aparajito, Jalshaghar etc. Apart from film direction he has made important contribution in the field of literary arena. His science fictions and detective stories have earned immense popularity among many readers. Ray has received many unique prizes from the country and abroad. He is the first cultural personality of India to earn the most coveted ‘Bharat Ratna’ award. Even the Government of France has attributed him with the highest award of the country. He is the only Indian film personality to win the Oscars.
Set Of 3 (Three) DVD's
1) Abhijan...
- 12/11/2009
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
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