Review of Pather Panchali (1955) by Kirk J — 07 Aug 2007

It's easy to see why this film is so beloved, as it's either absolutely joyful or sincerely moving throughout. Everything about it is nearly perfect, from the performances of the children and the respectful realism of the characters to Ravi Shankar's score, which even the waterbugs seem to be dancing to at one point, and to the many gorgeous scenes that feel as though they were revealed to the camera rather than made for it (the train! the storm!).

And I loved how much the story seemed structured like real life where things happen just because things happen, as if there's not really a storyteller behind the story trying to make things happen for a reason.

Pather Panchali flows like a river through the countryside, turning and shifting where there happens to be a rock or a slope -- there's no contrivance as to where it needs to go, but by no means is it going nowhere.

It's a beautiful experience.