[supernothingmanX]

I was able to see the last chapter of the Apu Trilogy this weekend. Satyajit Ray's The World of Apu (1959) is now, by a small margin, my favorite of the trilogy. It is the most emotional to me, and the ending is especially moving. Ray's quietly poetic visuals, in combination with genuine performances, and a climax of mounting power, all form an indelible experience. I feel that in the final chapter of the trilogy, the character interactions are even more polished and absorbing than in the excellent first two installments.

So as usual, please feel free to share your comments on the film!

[Ger]

What did you think of the wedding sequence? I love how Apu is blindsided into marriage.

Sharmila Tagore, the beguiling actress who plays his wife, went on to star in S. Ray's Devi. I believe she is still acting.

[supernothingmanX]

Originally posted by Ger
What did you think of the wedding sequence? I love how Apu is blindsided into marriage.

Sharmila Tagore, the beguiling actress who plays his wife, went on to star in S. Ray's Devi. I believe she is still acting.

The wedding sequence is quite disarming. Ray does a wonderful job of showing why it could be a good move for Apu and for the wife (who would otherwise be considered cursed by everybody), but alternately how much of a risk he is taking in such a spur of the moment decision.

Tagore is sweet and earnest in her relatively small role. Speaking of Devi, I think there is a video store where I often go to vacation that has several more of Ray's films including Devi. So I'll see that one eventually too, although probably not very soon.

[vornporn]

my two cents

I saw the trilogy backwards (and the review was written before I'd seen the first two parts). Apu Sansur is still my favorite of the three though.

[hschumann]

Originally posted by supernothingmanX
I was able to see the last chapter of the Apu Trilogy this weekend. Satyajit Ray's The World of Apu (1959) is now, by a small margin, my favorite of the trilogy. It is the most emotional to me, and the ending is especially moving. Ray's quietly poetic visuals, in combination with genuine performances, and a climax of mounting power, all form an indelible experience. I feel that in the final chapter of the trilogy, the character interactions are even more polished and absorbing than in the excellent first two installments.

So as usual, please feel free to share your comments on the film!

I have seen each film of the trilogy about 11 or 12 times in the theater and about 10 more times on video. They never lose any of their majesty or power no matter how many viewings. I think the work must be looked on as a whole so its unrewarding to say one is better than the other. Like how would you compare your left arm to your right? Don't answer that. Though, I love The World of Apu as a unique experience, when anyone asks me what my favorite film is I always say "The Apu Trilogy".