I don't think I have cried as much as I have while watching this movie. A masterpiece, and absolute cinema.

"Pather Panchali," the book by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay, changed my life and my perspective on Bengali village life. Being born and brought up in a Bengali village, I can relate to everything. I had not seen this movie until I was in college (Med school). After that, I have watched this movie many times. Each and every scene is epic. The music by Ravi Shankar adds a profound depth to the film, making it even more immersive. Satyajit Ray's direction is truly masterful; he is indeed an incredible filmmaker.

The rare perfect movie, even if is obviously made on a shoestring. Some of the most beautiful and touching sequences in any film, with every character unforgettable.

A realistic and moving portrait of rural life in India.

Satyajit Ray's directorial debut depicts harshening traditions of ancestral livelihood factored amid poverty whilst providing slice of life via mesmerizing cultural transportation with beautiful cinematography backed up by unconventionally associated music being strictly domestic, filled by raw performances to humanely characterized the results. One of those strong debuts in the storytelling approach expressed by solid merits under cultural significance, but it unknowingly disconnects between the pacing and unflinching harshness with decreasing hopeful sense. However, it deserves to be given a fair rating over its productive merits and efforts emotionally connected to their home cultural like a cinematic representation. (B+)

A wonderful film, very emotional, with a fantastic cinematography that takes us back almost by a century to witness life in India.

Idk what it is, but there's something magical about India and all its rich culture. Anytime I start watching an Indian movie where the opening credits has sitar music, I always get excited. The restoration that Criterion did looks incredible. Even though shot in black & white, it still looks gorgeous. I see that Satyajit loves his panning and tracking shots. And rightfully so, I can tell he has the patience, discipline and attention to detail to pull them off beautifully. The locations that Satyajit was able to find are so beautiful. They're rich with organic textures, and the way he uses lighting accentuates whatever's on screen. Aww, poor little kitty. She didn't have to throw it like that lol. I know those were different times in a different country, but that was a bit much. It's a little kitten after all. Wow, is that school? School seems kinda weird. It seems like the teacher is the same person who sells spices and oils to the locals. Old auntie is quite the character. She could definitely be inspiration for a character out of a Disney movie. Wow, Auntie legitimately looked dead when her time came. That actress that played Auntie did a terrific job. Wow, Indian women have beautiful hair! Long black and wavy. Those shots of the pond with all the little insects dancing on the surface of the water were beautiful. Satyajit really has an eye for cinematography and composition. Holy crap, I can't believe how that storm destroyed the entire outside of their home; it's wrecked. That's pretty dark, I wasn't expecting Apu's sister to pass away. That was very unexpected and sad, especially seeing the parents reaction to her passing away. I guess Apu had no choice but to grow up quickly after that. I can also understand the death of Apu's sister. She was kind of a kleptomaniac always stealing something whether from the neighbors or shops. I think stealing the little girls beads was probably the last straw and was punished for that. And on top of that she lied about not stealing it. Apu unexpectedly found it hidden in a bowl and did one last favor for his recently deceased sister by throwing the necklace into the lake so no one would ever find out. Forever a secret shared between Apu and his sister. That was really sweet of Apu to do that. Satyajit tells the story in a very sweet and tender way that feels very cozy. But also acknowledges the hardships of living in an impoverished environment and the struggles that come with that. I love the way he tackles family matters in a very realistic way. The story of Apu's family and his beginnings is one that is simple but is told beautifully. Simply put, this is just a gorgeous and magical movie. It's a sort of meditative cinematic experience that never becomes boring nor loses its momentum. I absolutely love this movie! I can even say that I cherish it. I can't wait to watch the other two Apu films!

A tale of rural woe and impoverishment played out to a background score of psychedelic Bangla sitars. It's not particularly entertaining or emotive and has aged badly.

Pather Panchali is a 1955 film directed by the legendary director Satyajit Ray. It is Mr.Ray's first film and it is one of the most finest works of Mr.Ray. The film is certainly a masterpiece. The film is overwhelmingly real and the key element in the movie is the maintenance of this realism. The characters are so true to the ethnic rural-sixties Indian existence that one is compelled to wonder if the film was captured through surveillance cameras. It's a quiet, simple tale, centering on the life of a small family living in a rural village in Bengal. The father, Harihar (Kanu Bannerjee), is a priest and poet who cares more about his writing and spiritual welfare than obtaining wages he is owed. The mother, Sarbojaya (Karuna Bannerjee), worries that her husband's financial laxity will leave her without enough food for her two children, daughter Durga (Uma Das Gupta) and son Apu (Subir Bannerjee). Harihar's family often lives on the edge of poverty, coping with the unkind taunts of their neighbors, the burden of caring for an aging aunt (Chunibala Devi), and the terrible aftermath of a natural catastrophe. Most of what transpires is shown through the eyes of either Sarbojaya or Durga, and, as a result, we identify most closely with these two. Harihar is absent for more than half of the movie, and, before the penultimate scene, Apu is a mere witness to events, rather than a participant. Until the closing moments, we don't get a sense of the young boy as a fully formed individual, since he's always in someone else's shadow. The simple story of the Bengali family will definitely stay in my heart for a long time to come.

Beautiful and haunting

It is ingredients how a movie, only covering the lives of a child Apu and his friends and family - can be so iconic. There are no action scenes, nothing special at all, still one of the most iconic movies of all time. And the short, Apu running towards a train was arguably one of the best scenes in film history. A simple drama of life, with tons of Apu's emotions of his village and his sister, are incredible. The story mainly shows a child and his innocence, his free life. The plot is quite simple, but the movie is still good enough to have a special place in hearts. In a sentence, Christopher Nolan's words may be used : 'One of the best movies ever made, an incredible piece of work.'

Trendsetting cinematography by the remarkable Indian Director, Satyajit Ray. Of equal importance are the two subsequent films in the so-called Apu Trilogy: Aparajito and Apur Sansar.

Pather Panchali is the best moive i ever seen my whole life.

Satyajit Ray's magnum opus is beautifully directed.

A masterful cinematic achievement!One of the greatest film ever made.

An overall package of life and death. From a young Satyajit Ray comes this authentic and raw portrayal of a family surviving through poverty and in search of prosperity.

Ray's debut feature poignantly narrates the story of an impoverished Bengali family through their daily struggles and tribulations. The movie's simplicity and neo-realism including Ray's beautiful, extended shots make for an incredible - somewhat cathartic - cinematic experience. Heartbreaking and delightful in equal measure, this is cinema at its best.

Watching movies about people suffering in impoverished areas of the world is not exactly a pleasant experience. It can be informative, because we learn a bit about how their day-to-day lives look, but it’s not what I would call enjoyable. Pather Panchali takes us through a handful of years in the life of an Indian family that is struggling to provide food and shelter for their children. It is a big slice-of-life drama that doesn’t exactly follow a narrative, but hits on some of the highlights (or should I say lowlights) of their menial existence. Watching the film reminded me of when missionaries visit my church and show a video. While seeing their simple lives in these remote parts of the world, it does give me a strong appreciation for all I have, and it also makes me extremely grateful that I don’t have to spend time in places like that. However, Pather Panchali takes me right there and keeps me in that place for more than two hours. Pather Panchali is clearly an accurate reflection of life for people in these desperate parts of the world, but that makes it somewhat unpleasant for me to watch for long. I don’t find any pleasure in seeing people suffer, and the more the movie made the characters likeable, the more I hated to watch them struggle. The other thing that didn’t work for me in Pather Panchali are the slow silent moments. There are times when the film halts any dialogue, and not much at all happens as we stare at a person walking or a breeze blowing through the trees. I hate to say it, but for a film that feels so personal and authentic, I was bored a lot. Then when things started happening again it was more disappointment or agony for our main characters. I can see how others might embrace Pather Panchali because there is nothing inherently bad in the way the film is made, and it feels like it could be documentary footage, but it was fairly tough for me to watch.

Blending universal themes and uniquely Indian realism (including intimate, impressive visuals), Pather Panchali may occasionally feel somewhat sanitized but ultimately derives beauty from its simplicity. (4.5/5)

1001 movies to see before you die. This was amazing for where it came from and what little they had to work with. A good insight to India's culture and poverty.