eShop USA > DVD > Pather Panchali
Pather Panchali
Price: $164.76 Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9781404941052
Format: Black & White, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
ISBN: 1404941053
Label: Sony Pictures
Languages: English (Subtitled), Bengali (Original Language),
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Region Code: 99
Release Date: October 28, 2003
Running Time: 126 minutes
Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: September 22, 1958
Related Items: Featured Listmania!
Editorial Review:
Pather Panchali tells the story of a family inching slowly and irrevocably, over the course of several years, toward the edge of financial and emotional disaster. In a rural Bengali village, circa 1919, Harihar (Kanu Bannerjee) recites sacred texts and performs religious rites for a living. He dreams of being a playwright, but he must support his growing family.
His wife, Sarbajaya (Karuna Bannerjee) must suffer her husband's long absences as he searches for work and the hostile pity of extended family members who are better off financially and socially. Her daughter, Durga (Uma Das Gupta), has the bad habit of stealing mangoes from the neighboring orchard, which adds to her mother's shame. When a son, Apu (Subir Bannerjee), is born, things seem to be looking up for the family. But it is only a short-lived illusion.
First films don't come any better than Pather Panchali. Made in 1955 by Satyajit Ray, this truly remarkable feat of storytelling is a must-see kind of movie. Ray reveals a gift for presenting stories that unfold gently, one engaging scene at time. This film delivers an amazing emotional punch that will linger in your consciousness for some time, not in spite of, but because of its simplicity.
The story is based on the novel of the same title, written by Bibhutibhushan Banerjee. Shot in glorious black and white, it runs for 115 minutes. The script is by Satyajit Ray, the music by Ravi Shankar. --Luanne Brown
The first in a popular trilogy of Indian films! Pather Panchali is a moving story of a rural family cursed with bad luck. The father is a dreamer, while his wife struggles to feed the family, including son Apu. When a petty thief brings tragedy to them, they must find a way to survive.Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Multiple film festival awards.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - An amazing movie with a terrible DVD release.
Pather Panchali (Satyajit Ray, 1955)
This would be a ludicrously long review before I ran out of good things to say about Pather Panchali. But everyone else has already said all those things. If you didn't listen to them, you're not going to listen to me, but I'll put in a "see it. now." here for good measure and get onto what will be a review not of a great film, but a ludicrous DVD release.
Biswas proudly trumpets that it has exclusive rights to Pather Panchali in the ... Read More
Rating:  - beautiful introduction to Satyajit Ray......
This is a great introduction to the masterful films of the late, great Indian filmmaker, Satyajit Ray. PATHER PANCHALI is the first of the Apu Trilogy, a series of stories that takes a look at the life of Apu, a young Bengali boy from a poor background. In this installment, Apu (Subir Bannerjee) is growing up with his older sister, Durga (Uma Das Gupta) who has the pesky habit of stealing mangos from their neighbor's tree. His mother, Sarbojaya Ray (Karuma Bannerjee) is constantly bickering with ... Read More
Rating: - Loss, Love, and Redemption
I'm sorry to see that as if this date Amazon has no copies of this film for sale. I hope this is temporary. It would be a shame if this film were not made available for people to own.
I have all three DVDs of the Apu trilogy. This, the first in the trilogy, is the best one, I think. Three of the major themes are the irrevocable nature of loss, the power of human love, and the simple but powerful ways we experience redemption.
Many reviews focus on the title character, ... Read More
Rating:  - Good visual drama
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 ... Read More
Rating: - Pather Panchali
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."
Related Categories:
|
