Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by njjohn (A) on December 05, 2004 at 11:39:53

In Reply to: Re: "Pather Panchali" posted by patrickU on December 5, 2004 at 09:57:57:

I'm about 3/4 through the film now. Getting a chance to "study" it.

1) The people in this film, especially the children, are extremely beautiful to look at. Ray, like Fellini, has an incredible aesthetic sense of people. Like Fellini, he knows people and he can capture them with the camera just like that.

2) Most compassionate film I've ever seen, and perhaps the most life-affirming(and "Bicycle Thief" and "Miracle In Milan" are extremely life-affirming films).

Perhaps it takes a simple drama to reach for the highest conception of order in the universe. People pay for their sins against humanity in this film, so it is life affirming in that way, in a way that affirms the true order of the universe.

But life goes on anyway. Plus, there is a beautiful self-realization involved. These are sensitive, spiritual people to begin with.

The father is a very spiritual person but against the backdrop of the ideals of the universe, it is not enough. Slight flaws and misdirections will do anyone in.

There is only one law and it involves complete compassion. If you don't have it, you are going to pay.

Back to the movie, I guess. I know the best is yet to come.