Audio Asylum Thread Printer

Get a view of an entire thread on one page

FAQ / News / Events

Films/DVD Asylum

"Pather Panchali"

205.188.116.72

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Thread: Display Email Next ] [ Films/DVD Asylum ]

I would say this film is in the top 5 of all-time. May even be the best to me.
Why? Besides it being an entraordinary and beautiful film, a true classic in cinema, it reaches the highest aspect of art. Because when a medium such as this film is used to open the door of metaphysical significance; when it is a metaphor for something greater, it is the highest achievement in art.
I've been impressed through the years of just how great an art, film can be. Italian films, Fellini films, Renoir, each had that impression on me. Someone recently mentioned the film "The Wages of Fear".
The idea of this film has to be one of the greatest ever conceived. Characters are not only placed in a beautiful and stunning Indian landscape. Characters are etched out over a cosmic landscape. There is a cosmic landscape of accountibiltiy and karma.
Landscapes are very intriguing in cinema. Consider the landscape in "Seven Samuri". In "Pather Panchali" the kids running through the Indian forests here to the bacdground of Ravi Shanker music is simply poetic. How the music matches the landscape!
So you have an extremely simple tale laid out to teach and to show one of the deepest and most complex spiritual ideas: that you reap what you sow. Each character, unique and individual, living their own destiny, is set against this cosmic force and reality. It's not harsh and unforgiving: it is what it is and it happens to be uncompromising.
Two reviews on the cover of my vhs tape suggest how good this film is.
One says "One of the most stunning first films in movie history. Ray is a welcome jolt of flesh, blood and spirit".
And the other says it best: "As deeply beautiful and plainly poetic as any movie ever made. Rare and exquisite".

Follow Ups:

If you like this... - Beethoven 18:43:09 12/05/04 (0)
than you should try some of Mrinal Sen's films. I totally agree with everyone's views on The Apu Trilogy - I grew up with them.
Mrinal Sen is another Indian director who has directed films both in his native tongue and in Hindi. Tremendous depth and quiet poignancy in his characters. Sen has been overshadowed by Ray, and it's too bad really because he is a great film maker. He has even been honoured with France's Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters.
My personal favourites are Khandahar (The Ruins) and Ek Din Protidin (A Day Like Any Other). Both very powerful films.
Satyajit Ray - grinagog 15:42:38 12/05/04 (1)
there's an excellent website devoted to him.
A great filmmaker
Grins
- Links here (Open in New Window)
- Information related to the link. - njjohn 17:17:02 12/05/04 (0)
  Thanks, I got to do some reading. Turns out everyone was a complete novice for this first film.
  The cameraman was a still photographer who had never photographed a scene. Ray had never directed a scene. The child actors were not tested for their roles. And Ravi Shanker was an unheard of novice (Ebert).
  But the initial scenes were so impressive that they won meager financial support for the rest of the film (Ebert)
  The "auntie" in the film had been an actress many decades previously. Ray sought her out and she was living in a brothel when he found her. She was 80 when the film started and really the most extraordinary performer in the trilogy (Ebert).
  The actress in the 3rd film, who I said was beautiful was only 14 (oops). "She projected exquisite shyness and tenderness....sweetness and love shine through her eyes..innocent delight." (Ebert)
Greatest trilogy ever made. - Harmonia 13:11:10 12/05/04 (1)
Not that *that* saying much, considering the competition. You should see all three of Ray's Apu films, nevertheless.
"Pather Panchali" is my favorite of the trio and one of my favorite films of all time, probably in my top ten along with Rules of The Game, Sunrise and Tokyo Story.
- Re: Greatest trilogy ever made. - njjohn 15:54:02 12/05/04 (0)
  Some of us are on the same page. After seeing "Pather Panchali" this time and realizing the impact it is having on me, it is probably my favorite film.
  I realize now that if I could only have one movie it would be this one. Because this is all I would need to guide my life. Other films are exceptional in other ways, but this one has the most relevant lesson in life.
  In these trying times, it is nice to know there is really only one law that guides the universe.
  I haven't yet seen the other films you mentioned. After I saw the post, I'm really itching to see the "Wages of Fear" again.
  Seems like I might get back into films, at least the world classics.
Re: "Pather Panchali" - patrickU 09:57:57 12/05/04 (9)
I ordered this one. Merci.
- "Whatever God does is for the best." - njjohn 11:39:53 12/05/04 (0)
  I'm about 3/4 through the film now. Getting a chance to "study" it.
  1) The people in this film, especially the children, are extremely beautiful to look at. Ray, like Fellini, has an incredible aesthetic sense of people. Like Fellini, he knows people and he can capture them with the camera just like that.
  2) Most compassionate film I've ever seen, and perhaps the most life-affirming(and "Bicycle Thief" and "Miracle In Milan" are extremely life-affirming films).
  Perhaps it takes a simple drama to reach for the highest conception of order in the universe. People pay for their sins against humanity in this film, so it is life affirming in that way, in a way that affirms the true order of the universe.
  But life goes on anyway. Plus, there is a beautiful self-realization involved. These are sensitive, spiritual people to begin with.
  The father is a very spiritual person but against the backdrop of the ideals of the universe, it is not enough. Slight flaws and misdirections will do anyone in.
  There is only one law and it involves complete compassion. If you don't have it, you are going to pay.
  Back to the movie, I guess. I know the best is yet to come.
- Re: "Pather Panchali" - PCL 10:01:40 12/05/04 (7)
  Patrick,
  You may also wish to order the other two films that make up the Apu Trilogy: Aparajito and The World of Apu.
  PCL
  - Re: "Pather Panchali" - njjohn 10:30:15 12/05/04 (3)
    The other two are worth seeing. If I remember corectly the woman in the third film has a remarkable beauty.
    I'm in the middle of watching "Pather Panchali" now. I had been recalling it from memory. I'm about half-way through.
    I have just a sense of groundwork only so far.
    I'm a grown man but I'm pretty much tearful now through the whole movie. That is how the film has grown on me. It has become this emotional masterpiece, like no oeht I have expereienced. Perhaps the most "feeling" film ever made. It just does not let up.
    The characters are setting themselves up. Slight imperfections or tendencies in their characters. The boom is about to drop.
    - Re: "Pather Panchali" - PCL 10:50:12 12/05/04 (2)
      Interesting you should use the term 'feeling'. I've found ( in my admittedly limited experience) that films from the subcontinent share this characteristic. Be careful that Ray is not a gateway drug that'll have you freebasing Bollywood films next!;-) ( apologies to any sensibilities ruffled by seeing 'Satyajit Ray' and 'Bollywood' in the same sentence)
      PCL
      - How deep can it go? - njjohn 12:46:41 12/05/04 (1)
        
        In Reply to: Re: "Pather Panchali" posted by PCL on December 5, 2004 at 10:50:12:
        
        Wow, it's been a long time since I've seen a film like that.
        Have to take the lesson with me. Have to know the true priorities.
        It's rough.
        When a film really tries to point out life. Too powerful. Really of priceless value.
        I've seen some good Hollywood films in the past few years, but nothing that even remotely goes this deep.
        I don't think Ray goes in the next two films anywhere to this level, but I have to check them out again. I think he does have some other brilliances. I remember seeing some othe remarkable stuff.
        The only other film that I've seen that might go in this particular direction of deepness and insight is "Ugetsu", a Japanese film.
        I'm not sure but I remember something about it. It is suppose to be a film about "misguided ambition and forbidden passion". I got a copy of it so I'm going to check it out soon.
        
        Re: How deep can it go? - PCL 13:11:32 12/05/04 (0)
        
        In Reply to: How deep can it go? posted by njjohn on December 5, 2004 at 12:46:41:
        
        I presume you're referring to Mizoguchi's Ugetsu Monogatari? Incredible film! The published screenplay edited by Keiko McDonald is a very nice read, and is a great one-volume book on the film.
        Quite different approach though, don't you think? Mizoguchi uses war and ghosts, where Ray bog standard life.Great fun reading your (re)discovery of PP! I don't recall that the following films necessarily suffer in comparison to PP though, but it's been a few years for me as well.
  - Re: "Pather Panchali" - patrickU 10:07:04 12/05/04 (2)
    Thank you! I will first take a good look at the first installement, but it is good two know that there could be two more to follow the line!
    Patrick
    - Re: "Pather Panchali" - PCL 10:42:37 12/05/04 (1)
      Patrick,
      You will be happy to note that the three films together are nothing like the LOTR trilogy.
      PCL
      - Re: " Much noise about nothing " to paraphrase LOTR.... - patrickU 11:38:45 12/05/04 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Re: "Pather Panchali" posted by PCL on December 5, 2004 at 10:42:37:
        
        And William...

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

You can not post to an archived thread.