Cinema
Pather Panchali
পথের পাঁচালী
Satyajit Ray · 1955
Synopsis
In a village in Bengal, at the beginning of the century, little Apu grows up in a poor family: his father Harihar, often away, looks for work far off; his mother Sarbajaya keeps the house going at the end of her strength; his elder sister Durga, independent and given to pilfering, leads him through the fields; the old aunt Indir, mischievous and grudgingly tolerated, lives with them. The film follows a few years of this life, seen at a child's height.
Context
The first film of its author, drawn from the novel by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, it was begun in October 1952 and shot over nearly three years, with mostly amateur actors; the cinematographer Subrata Mitra had never filmed before, and Ravi Shankar composed the music. For lack of money, shooting often stopped: the director borrowed against his life insurance, sold books and records, and his wife pawned her jewellery. The government of West Bengal finally financed it from the roads budget, because of its title, then bought the film. It was released on 26 August 1955 in Calcutta.
Who it is for
Two hours in Bengali, with no plot in the usual sense; it opens a trilogy best followed in order.
Prizes and reception
Prize for best human document at the Cannes Film Festival in 1956; regularly ranked among the greatest films in the history of cinema.
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