Week in Film #10: 2/29/16-3/6/16
Film of the Week: Apur Sansar
Year: 1959
Director: Satyajit Ray
The Apu trilogy is more than the story of a life, but the story of many. It is as much about it's main protagonist as it is the people, particularly the women, who shape his life. It is his grandmother's story, his sister's, his mother's, and his wife's. Ray has quite a way with actresses it seems, and these women form the backbone of Apu's own story with absolutely excellent performances. They all guide Apu, and shape him from the boy into the teen, and from the teen into the man he eventually becomes. It's hard to imagine Apu without these influencers in his life. Would he have eventually become the father he became without his their caring.? Would he have been able to escape the bitterness of his world without their help? One doubts it.
Rating: A-
Aparajito
Film of the Week: Apur SansarYear: 1959
Director: Satyajit Ray
The Apu trilogy is more than the story of a life, but the story of many. It is as much about it's main protagonist as it is the people, particularly the women, who shape his life. It is his grandmother's story, his sister's, his mother's, and his wife's. Ray has quite a way with actresses it seems, and these women form the backbone of Apu's own story with absolutely excellent performances. They all guide Apu, and shape him from the boy into the teen, and from the teen into the man he eventually becomes. It's hard to imagine Apu without these influencers in his life. Would he have eventually become the father he became without his their caring.? Would he have been able to escape the bitterness of his world without their help? One doubts it.
Rating: A-
The Rest:
Aparajito
Year: 1956
Director: Satyajit Ray
What is most admirable about Ray's work is the way he deals with his subject matter. Often, it is some pretty hard stuff. But he is too smart to think that life is all tragedy and no relief. He's a master of the little beauties of life, and balancing the pain with the joy. No matter how bad things get, there is always hope in Ray's world.
Rating: B+
JFK
Year: 1991
Director: Oliver Stone
The kind of film that makes you ashamed to be an American. I always suspected, no I knew, there was something wrong with the judicial systems in this country, but I didn't know that it could be this horrifically bad. Why had I never heard this side of the story before? It amazes me that things like this can happen and no one seems to mind. Of course, assuming he's right. I love this style of filmmaking, the collage of it captivates me, and I find it extremely engaging. In fact, it's that sense of style that saves this from being your standard historical drama. It certainly has all the trappings, but it is in the execution that the film shines.
Rating: B
JFKYear: 1991
Director: Oliver Stone
The kind of film that makes you ashamed to be an American. I always suspected, no I knew, there was something wrong with the judicial systems in this country, but I didn't know that it could be this horrifically bad. Why had I never heard this side of the story before? It amazes me that things like this can happen and no one seems to mind. Of course, assuming he's right. I love this style of filmmaking, the collage of it captivates me, and I find it extremely engaging. In fact, it's that sense of style that saves this from being your standard historical drama. It certainly has all the trappings, but it is in the execution that the film shines.
Rating: B
Apu! Man I love that little feller.
ReplyDeleteJFK, I am surprised at your pointing the blame at the judicial system. I think what is wrong, again if Stone is correct (a big if) is the power of the Military-Industrial Complex. and the power they and the executive branch seemed to have to perpetrate this crime and cover it up.