Aparajito
The first Indian film to win the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Ray, who was attending the festival, was utterly flabbergasted as he felt that the film contained some serious flaws.,Sarbojaya Ray: What is there at Keoratola?
Apu: [sleepily] Burning hot...
Sarbojaya Ray: What?
Apu: They have cremations.
Sarbojaya Ray: I see... I hope you're careful on the roads. When are your finals? After that you can get a job and I'll stay with you. Will you have me? Will that ever be, I wonder? Who knows how long one has to live? Suppose I fall seriously ill... I'm not so well as I used to be. In the evenings I'm often feverish, I've no appetite. I thought of telling you... but I couldn't. I don't suppose you'd leave college to look after me, would you? Would you use your earnings to pay for me to have treatment? Why don't you answer me... Apu!,There is an Italian edition of this film on DVD, re-edited with the contribution of film historian Riccardo Cusin. This version is also available for streaming on some platforms.,Featured in Century of Cinema: And the Show Goes On: Indian Chapter (1996),Although Satajit Ray was to old, sick and spent to fully appreciate his special Oscar, it was to the Academy's credit that it finally did recognize this supreme artist.

It's often been said that "Aparajito" is the lesser of the three film that comprise "The Apu Trilogy." I personally don't buy that. Here is a finely etched portrait of a young man as he leaves his primitive Indian village and widowed mother to better himself through education at a Calcutta University.

The relationship between mother and son are beautifully presented, with their differing values representative of passing generations. The circumstances may be specific, while the story is universal.

It is about the age-old tension between human choices and challenging environments, about the balancing of values in achieving one's heart's desires.

The emotional fluctuations felt by both mother and son are sharply depicted, including the loss of one's parents as a unique, one-time experience. One must pick up the pieces and move on, as Apu does.

Viewing "Pather Panchali," "Aparajito" and "The World of Apu" in one continuous sequence is the proper way to get the full impact of this incredible piece of work.,