Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes Satyajit Ray's most famous film, Pather Panchali, from the standpoint of cinematic realism. In doing so, the paper draws comparisons with the Italian neo-realist film that had the greatest influence on Ray's burgeoning aesthetic, 'The Bicycle Thief.' In considering the two films together, the paper shows the ways in which neo-realist filmmaking effectively subverted the dominant filmmaking paradigm of Hollywood in the mid-20th century.

Outline:
Introduction
The Plot
Narrative & Style
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Much of the stress of the family's day to day existence seems to fall on Sarbajaya. Not only does she have to look after the two children, she is also faced with the burden of looking after her elderly sister-in-law, Indir Thakrun, who is portrayed by Chunibala Devi. Despite the fact that the woman is so old she is practically on the verge of death, Sarbajaya nonetheless resents the fact that she has to share her precious home and resources with the old woman. While we empathize with Sarbajaya's plight, we also feel sorry for the old woman - she bends over when she walks, has no teeth, and is obviously unable to take care of herself. She thus rounds out the principle cast, and helps to evoke a very real feeling of helplessness that seems to haunt all of the characters' lives."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ray, Satyajit Ray. 1976. Our Films, Their Films. Calcutta: Orient Longman Limited.

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