MovieChat Forums > Apur Sansar (1960) Discussion > the greatest achievement in cinema

the greatest achievement in cinema

posted 19 years ago by apursansar
10 replies | jump to latest

I watched the first two films in the Apu trilogy long ago and was incredibly moved by them. The second one was particularly hard to watch, however; I saw so many similarities in Apu and his mother's life and my own...for a long time I put off watching the last film in the trilogy. I just went back and watched all three...I didn't think any film could equal or maybe surpass the profound experience of watching Nights of Cabiria, which has long been my favorite film, but after seeing Apur Sansar, I must say that this trilogy has to be the greatest achievement in the history of cinema. It's perfect. I've read some reviews that say watching it is like entering another world for a few hours, taking part in another life we might have lived...I just hope one day someone will come along and make more films like this.

[–] lgarder 18 years ago

from the very first time I saw Apur Sansar, I always thought this was the greatest film ever made. I love particularly the scenes in the forest, after the death of his wife, also when he lets the leaves of his book wander off into the forest, which always reminds me of the lines in Valery's "Le Cimetiere Marin" - "envolez vous, pages tout eblouies" - fly away, you pages all illuminated.
This was remade a few years ago, without any mention of Ray, into a film called "Mia Familia".
Of course, watching a love story without any physical contact (due to the censorship of the India cinema) makes one realize that physical contact is actually quite trite in real life (though a lot of fun)

[–] worldpoetics 18 years ago

I just watched this last night and was moved much the same as the original poster. "Nights of Cabiria" is also a personal touchstone for me in terms of cinema and is an apt comparison to Apu, not in terms of style necessarily, but in terms of emotional and spiritual substance. The editing, the framing, the acting and the direction was all superb and makes me want to start on the other two of the trilogy. But aside from its technical feats, this is truly a humane film. I hate using adjectives like these but that is essentially how I felt after watching this, an inside view into humanity's follies, triumphs, despairs and joys; a vision of what it means to be human.

[–] jonr-3 17 years ago

I've seen the trilogy at least five or six times and of all the hundreds (thousands?) of films I've seen in my 67 years, without a doubt the Apu Trilogy as a whole is the greatest achievement I know -- it's so near to perfection that I cannot imagine any artistic creation surpassing it.

I just finished watching it again last night (a three-night project) and once again I considered "Aparajito" the best of the three films, with "Pather panchali" a close second. "Apur samsar" is a bit too melodramatic towards its end for my taste, but that's just me. It's senseless anyway to attempt to rank three such masterpieces. They are simply what they are: long, loving looks into frail human characters continually at odds with fate and doing the best they can. And this is done with an apparent ease that belies the enormous challenge this filming presented. Who else has even attempted work on this scale -- and achieved such near-perfect results?

[–] twistedude 17 years ago

ditto...but I'm 73.

"Thus began our longest journey together." To Kill a Mockingbird

[–] logan03 16 years ago

I finally saw all 3 within a week's span and am still feeling the effects of having watched film-making at it's best. I too have seen so many films I've lost track of them and these 3 will remain at the top; they have certainly entered the top 25 of all time, for me, and will remain there.

[–] fvidal-812-699730 10 years ago

I would say

Ozu's Tokyo Story
Bresson's Diary of a Country Priest
Truffaut's 400 Blows
Erice's The Spirit of the Beehive
Ashley's Little Fugitive (1953)

I could name some few more, but yes, there aren't that many of this caliber.

In another league I would add directors like the mentioned above Kiewslovsky, Kiarostami, Rohmer, Fellini and movies like

The Conformist
The Third Man
The Tenant
Blow Up
Peeping Tom
The Innocents (1960)
Space Oddysey
Badlands
Last Tango in Paris
Taxi Driver
On The Bowery
...
oh and a late discovery : My Favorite Year

[–] Jag85 16 years ago

I agree about The Apu Trilogy possibly being the greatest achievement in cinema. Although it's a simple story about a country boy's growth to adulthood, it felt like I was watching a truly epic saga. I doubt a masterpiece like The Apu Trilogy could ever be created again.

"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM???!!!!!"

[–] romeorammohan 16 years ago

i am a twenty year old Indian youth......but was amazed by the fact that a trilogy more than 50 years could old still create a profound effect on me..all films are simple,emotional & meaningful..considering these three to be ray's inexperienced take on cinema i feel pride in coming from the same country as him......... this has to be one of the best trilogies ever made in cinema history........BTW check out nayak by RAY IMO its his best work

click this
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048473/

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] 16 years ago

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