The Apu Trilogy

Thanks to some cheap schemes in the UK to watch good movies,easy accessibility and other such due acknowledgements I consider myself lucky to have watched this trilogy.

I had always shied away from Satyajit Ray for some unknown reason.One of the most overt ones being that being an Indian director,I could lay my hands on his works anytime.That is not the reason I know.But once I watched Pather Panchali,I realized my mistake.The extra ordinary timing of the movies was that while also watching the Apu Trilogy,we were also watching the Colours Trilogy,by Krystof Keislowski.Both lyrical.Both masterpieces.

What one person did with Blue,White and Red,the other achieved with Black,White and Grey.
Some things that ought to be mentioned is his proficiency in working with child artists.Children generally spoil the movie.They are either too precocious or plain irritating.Who in Tamil or Malayalam is called an Athigaprasangi.But Ray absolutely makes little wonders of joy.Right from the little Apu,to Kajal,Apu's son in the third part,they are all so innocently mischievous and real that one has to acknowledge his directorial excellence.One reason why he thinks children react so well to his instructions is in his own words "I treat them as adults...I give them whispered instructions..and I never let anyone on the sets mollycoddle them".

Pandit(no wonder they call him that) and Subrata Mitra make no mean contribution to the movie too.Sharmila Tagore in Apur Sansar is a pure joy to watch.Also watch out for the trains,smokes and water bodies.The trademark motives that underline Rays these three works.

Pather Panchali

I am sure there are numerous reviews that you'll get if you look it up.Reviews by experts on the movie.So I am not willing to nor try and critique this master piece of a movie.

All I can say is,if you love movies this is a must see.A perfect movie(though in his interview Mr Ray describes it to have a modifiable first half),this is one movie that will affect you.The pace,the place and the people are all haunting.

All the directors and actors who are in the industry must watch this movie and if they have not,they are in the wrong profession.The work of a master who has complete control over his art.

Though,the movie throughout is a visual and cultural treat there are some sequences that haunt me.One is the monsoon season.Where Durga dances in the rain.This is a scene I will not forget for long.One more director who uses rain to intensify the screen.

Then there is the scene where Durga chases Apu for the latter's act of appropriating the formers treasure of Silver paper to make a crown.

The movie would have not been the same without Pandit Ravi Shankers music too.

Movies That Should Be Watched If You Can-R Rated

Since there seem to be quite a lot of movie buffs that I come across from time to time thought the easiest way to communicate would be to put up the stills from The movies.This small set of movies are those that I remember off the top of my head that are very impressive.

However these contain nudity,sex and mature themes.So unless you are into serious movies AND are above 18 (both are necessary conditions)please do not try to view these. Also you might have to put up with subtitles.
The movies featured are:

Odishon directed by Takashi Miike:
Language:Japanese Genre:Horror/Thriller/Extreme
More gore here:http://www.mandiapple.com/snowblood/odishon.htm

La Pianiste directed by Michael Haneke Language:French Genre:Not too sure More Classical Notes here:http://www.kino.com/pianoteacher/

De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté(The Beat That My Heart Skipped) directed by Jacques Audiard Language:French Genre:Neo Noir More Info here:http://www.wellspring.com/movies/text.html?page=synopsis&movie_id=63

Przypadek(Blind Chance) directed by Krystof Kiezlowski Language:Polish Genre:The master's own Take your chance here:http://www.aboutfilm.com/movies/b/blindchance.htm

Irreversible directed by Gaspar Noe Language:French Genre:Shock move.If never heard of Noe,better not watch it You could try:http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/04/31/irreversible.html

Ghost In The Shell:1 and Ghost in the Shell 2:Innocence Language:Japanese Genre:Science Fiction/Manga Portal URL:http://www.manga.com/ghost/