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Pather Panchali
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Pather Panchali

1955
Drama
2h 5m
Sometime in the early years of the century, a boy, Apu, is born to a poor Brahmin family in a village in Bengal. The father, a poet and priest, cannot earn enough to keep his family going...(imdb)
Directed by:
Satyajit Ray Satyajit Ray
Written by:
Satyajit Ray Satyajit Ray Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay
+1 more
Starring:
Kanu Bannerjee Karuna Bannerjee Subir Bannerjee Uma Das Gupta Chunibala Devi Runki Banerjee Tulsi Chakraborty Reba Devi Aparna Devi Nibhanani Devi Haridhan Nag
More
Franchise:
The Apu Trilogy
Genre:
Drama
AKA:
Song of the Little Road
Country:
India
Language:
Bengali
imdb More information at IMDb
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Pather Panchali

1955
Drama
2h 5m
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Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 76.95% from 1073 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 24 Feb 2007
98
99th
Poetic, beautiful, a perfect creation. I don't know of a finer debut for a director, and that includes Citizen Kane. The photography is exquisite, magical, and utterly transports you into the world of the story. Ravi Shankar's score is sublime. The performances are, bar none, pitch-perfect, including some of the best child actors you'll ever see. The story is authentic and moving, displaying a deep understanding of humanity as it touches on a broad range of experience.
Rated 24 Feb 2007
torontodogtorontodog
Rated 30 Jan 2008
100
99th
Every element of this film seems flawless. Even the kid actors are perfect. I gave it 100 because I was completely hypnotized by the movie. More of a life experience rather than entertainment.
Rated 30 Jan 2008
jebJeb
Rated 20 Nov 2008
87
74th
A universal film that's completely poetic and depressing in it's potrayal of one family falling apart day by day. The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous and utterly hypnotizing, and the acting is great considering all of the cast are un-professionals. No doubt the most explosive, promising powerhouse directorial debut ever. Ray has made it clear that he is very talented.
Rated 20 Nov 2008
doctor7doctor7
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
98th
A beautifully shot film with surpisingly good acting from none professional actors. One of the most touching, and sad, movies I have ever seen. A must for any true film enthusiast.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
joojooJooJoo
Rated 10 Feb 2009
6
95th
Never has a train seemed so alien.
Rated 10 Feb 2009
tds4aTds4a
Rated 21 May 2010
5
99th
There's nothing I'd rather watch than a movie of peasants eating with their hands.
Rated 21 May 2010
magbMagb
Rated 24 Jan 2007
95
94th
Tragic, but not without a sense of hope. Ray's first movie remains one of his finest, and one of the best directorial debuts ever.
Rated 24 Jan 2007
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 09 Nov 2009
10
97th
A journey into the the unknown, "Pather Panchali" is one of the great films cinema has to offer. Although heavily influenced by Italian neorealism, it felt like witnessing a birth, something new and vivid. There's a line I will never forget: "It's not your fault, it's just bad luck". It ranks among classics like "Time of the Gypsies" and "Bicycle Thieves". A visceral experience I won't soon forget, a film I can't wait to revisit and a film that's worthy of your time. Highly Recommended !!!
Rated 09 Nov 2009
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 10 Jan 2009
5
91st
One of the most poetic movies I've ever seen, simplistic but heartbreaking and beautiful. The cinematography is stellar, the score by Shankar is lovely, the acting is outstanding (and by nonprofessionals no less), the direction by Ray more or less perfect. Not just one of the finest feature film debuts ever, but one of the greatest movies of all-time.
Rated 10 Jan 2009
suture_selfSuture Self
Rated 21 Jun 2014
9
90th
While Apu's family is filmed with an affectionate eye, you quickly realize they're a generation behind, far removed from the cushions of modernity, living simply and in great poverty. Hope for a different life is an alien notion. This sentiment is made especially clear when Apu and Durga come across the train. Once a mystifying sound in the distance, the train seems to materialize from a world they're not meant to be a part of, and disappears as quickly as it came. PS: The music is wonderful.
Rated 21 Jun 2014
djrossdjross
Rated 30 Jun 2009
90
97th
Some of the finest things about this movie are those elements, both of story and style, that many directors may have considered the most extraneous, or least important to the unfolding of the narrative. This is all the more remarkable, given the circumstances of the production.
Rated 30 Jun 2009
stainStain
Rated 26 Mar 2007
100
95th
Beautiful film and by far the best in Ray's Apu trilogy. Awesome directorial debut, possibly the best ever
Rated 26 Mar 2007
valenzettiValenzetti
Rated 06 Aug 2011
98
98th
A sort of internal documentary of familial relationships, flowing on in tones both passionate and meditative. Ray speaks with faces, hands, beams of light, and gusts of wind, in a vision of the world that sees the images and sounds of the forest, house, and body passing into each other until they can hardly be told apart. Deeply affecting. I lost all sense of time.
Rated 06 Aug 2011
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 14 Mar 2008
87
87th
A very touching film with a very fitting score. The acting is very good and the story conveys a lot of emotions in an understated way. It gives some insight into Indian culture both by examining social relationships and through the images shown. While it was never slow it did feel a bit too understated at times.
Rated 14 Mar 2008
jakeaestheteJakeAesthete
Rated 13 Aug 2016
36
32nd
For better or worse, even more than the work of Yasujiro Ozu, this film provides the basic template for every small-scale, low-key "naturalistic" drama from an "exotic" country about the simple lives of "common" people where not much happens, that have populated mid-level film festivals ever since, which critics then praise for it's "warm-hearted", "humanistic" "lyricism" etc. All of which is essentially true, but even more than with Ozu i simply cannot bring myself to give a shit.
Rated 13 Aug 2016
kamrankamran
Rated 14 Aug 2007
98
99th
Best Film I've ever seen. By far.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
bownBown
Rated 11 Jul 2010
95
98th
Not much happens in this film, but it's the right kind of not much, as every scene hides a deeper poetry. It's easy to see how Ray was inspired by films like Bicycle Thieves, but also managed to add his own beautiful style to every single frame. As the film went on I found myself more drawn into the world of these characters, into a culture which was completely new to me. Shankar's score is amazing too.
Rated 11 Jul 2010
nobletNoblet
Rated 11 Aug 2011
96
99th
One of the best movies I've ever seen. Despite being a low-budget debut effort, every element of this film is truly inspired. The graceful visuals, the wonderful music, the great acting, It's so easy to sympathize with every member of the family. I was absolutely blown away.
Rated 11 Aug 2011
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 21 Nov 2015
5
93rd
It is appropriate that such abject squalor be depicted with a measure of humility; understated, elemental, lyrical (in these ways reminiscent of and rival to Mizoguchi's finest work). I have read this film - and Ray in general - accused of romanticizing poverty, but how can anyone begrudge a film for not reducing its characters to political leverage? It is filled with anguish and despair, but it glorifies an affectionate family portrait, compassionate and humanitarian. Just a magnificent film.
Rated 21 Nov 2015
lisa_iilisa-
Rated 17 Oct 2013
7
92nd
a beautiful film set in an indian rainforest. enormously expressive and ultimately very sad and touching. could have done with a extra ten minutes scattered around various scenes to let things sit just a little longer - the editing was a mite enthusiastic.
Rated 17 Oct 2013
caimancaiman
Rated 01 Feb 2013
97
99th
An exquisite movie. Maybe even perfect. Everything gels together on every conceivable level. The story is moving and involving; the characters are genuine; the cinematography is riveting; the performances are impeccable; and the music... oh god the music! I confess that I'm a sucker for a good soundtrack, but this is some of the best film music I've ever heard. Ravi Shankar provides an element of emotion, intensity, sadness, poetry, beauty. It elevates a great movie to masterpiece level.
Rated 01 Feb 2013
sellissellis
Rated 19 Apr 2018
95
97th
I'm amazed at how little of this story is told in words. Only non-image based information is conveyed in sometimes long-winded monologues or brief exchanges to establish or complicate relationships. The meat of the meaning is told through the images. Can't remember the last time I've felt the power of the close-up so strongly. The scene with the mother trying to keep the storm out will stay with me forever. Powerful. The embodiment of earnestness.
Rated 19 Apr 2018
backwardsuitbackwardsuit
Rated 12 Nov 2014
94
99th
Free from the political baggage of social realism, it reaches out to something more fundamental & human. The directing shows heartfelt restraint that radiates empathy on all its characters yet abstains from broad statements about the world or its people. There's a joyous purity to Ray's touch that is matched by the gloriously evocative score from Ravi Shankar. Lyrical, awe-inspiring & humbly naturalistic masterpiece that captures the flow of life in a beautiful & hard-hitting way.
Rated 12 Nov 2014
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 17 May 2014
99
98th
Not much story here-,but--as we watch the descent of a respected village family into poverty--these fully human characters in a completely realized setting move through time, gaining universality from the spell of Ray's meditative pacing and Shankar's s haunting soundtrack. At the end of this film, you will feel as if you have seen an entire world. All the actors are excellent, but Karuna Banerjee (as the mother) and the elderly Chunibala Devi (as "Auntie") are particularly memorable.
Rated 17 May 2014
vdecraimVdecraim
Rated 13 Dec 2013
85
87th
The biggest strength of Italian neorealism is also its greatest weakness: it's about real people in real locations. That's it. We witness these events, but we don't become part of it. Pather Panchali, in all its simplicity and sweetness, becomes for a brief period of time another life that we might have lived. Ray's film is a living and breathing testament to the power of cinema.
Rated 13 Dec 2013
shellishShellish
Rated 05 Jan 2014
90
96th
A strikingly poignant debut from an excellent director. The cinematography alone is enough to make you swoon - a very stirring film. The story concerns the difficulties of poverty and the impact it has on family life.
Rated 05 Jan 2014
barthalenBarthalen
Rated 10 Jan 2010
89
95th
A touching story about trying to make it through life, day by day. A great score, some wonderful visuals, and great acting all-over. Extra impressive considering this was the directors' debut.
Rated 10 Jan 2010
kasperlKasperL
Rated 03 Oct 2010
80
86th
A good film and certainly a very impressive debut. For me it never quite achieves the greatness I had been led to expect but the ending did give it additional weight.
Rated 03 Oct 2010
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 20 Oct 2009
9
93rd
Definitely a film that lives up to the hype. Very beautiful movie and shows the possibilities and potential that film has to offer. Gotta love that train scene.
Rated 20 Oct 2009
mandymandy
Rated 13 Oct 2011
9
98th
The film seemed slow and dull to begin with,but I was totally drawn in by the fabulously rich portrayal of universal human emotions and deeply moved. Rarely has a black and white film seemed so colourful.
Rated 13 Oct 2011
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 01 Apr 2009
84
94th
Nice Movie
Rated 01 Apr 2009
doyler29doyler29
Rated 14 Nov 2019
100
96th
One of the truly miraculous things about this film is how little the narrative matters in a straightforward manner. Ray focuses more on the small, contextual details of life, painting a picture of how this family lives in their community and letting the narrative emerge from this picture.
Rated 14 Nov 2019
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 29 Jun 2007
70
75th
"What have things come to, when an old woman has to patch her shawl?". Obviously the work of an inexperienced (if gifted) director, and the rushed editing (it was edited over 10 sleepless days) is a major flaw... but otherwise a wise, understated drama that seems very evocative of rural life in a rainforest (a rarity in cinema). What I find most exceptional is Ray's rich and attentive use of music.
Rated 29 Jun 2007
vesupriavesupria
Rated 08 Aug 2010
8
88th
Ray's ability to communicate reality through humble cinematography and sincere emotion is breathtaking. He presents a heartbreaking tale of a child's upbringing into a world of poverty and despair. But there is also small hope through the innocence of youth, and Ray captures these scenes both subtlely and meaningfully. A triumph of concept over the need to merely tell a story. The wheels of destiny spin, and God blesses his will upon us and shall we marvel no matter the fruits that we are given.
Rated 08 Aug 2010
icarusIcarus
Rated 13 Dec 2010
100
99th
This is really an amazing film. Ray is able to imbue this sad story with a sense of hope that transcends the difficulties of life, through the use of music, editing that highlights the continuance of life, and remarkable performances from both of the children and the mother. The final image of the family in the wagon encapsulates the themes of the movie so well, bringing together absolute heartbreak with the hope of life changing for the better.
Rated 13 Dec 2010
terrymacterrymac
Rated 04 Sep 2008
93
99th
An absolutely stunning debut film from Ray. Beautifully realised, touching, sad , human and uplifting all at once. Very highly recommended.
Rated 04 Sep 2008
karamazovkaramazov.
Rated 09 Mar 2014
91
99th
It is astonishingly effective, and even sophisticated, for a DP who was a still photographer who apparently knew nothing about shooting movies at the start of the project.
Rated 09 Mar 2014
theyshootpicTheyshootpic
Rated 17 Apr 2007
96
96th
# 42
Rated 17 Apr 2007
damildamil
Rated 04 Nov 2012
55
34th
I hate to say this, but I didn't really like this film. It's a slice of life sort of film, but, unfortunately, I just didn't find the slice very interesting. For the most part, I found it boring. It's a pretty highly acclaimed film, and I wanted to like it. I can see why others could get into it, but for me, watching a poor family do nothing for two hours... It didn't really do anything for me. I thought the score was great, and it did have a very authentic feeling to it, but I didn't enjoy it.
Rated 04 Nov 2012
peyrinpeyrin
Rated 29 May 2021
75
69th
It's a black & white film, but the deep, rich cinematography and focus on the peripheral breathe color into the whole thing. Nothing about this suggests a directorial debut - it feels like watching a filmmaker at the height of their powers.
Rated 29 May 2021
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 12 Nov 2023
85
75th
Notable as the cinematic landmark that it is; this is an almost miraculous mix of earthy grit and refined elegance, using the framework of the day-to-day lives of its characters to subtly provoke much broader contemplation of the joys and foibles of life, without ever sentimentalising (or trivialising) the dire poverty the characters exist in – no “suffer porn” here but a calm, direct stare down from the director and his terrific cast (Devi’s irascible, force-of-nature “Aunty” is a highlight).
Rated 12 Nov 2023
anomalyAnomaly
Rated 01 Dec 2016
82
79th
Strongly nostalgic, and yet underscored with a dark current. Quite a strong showing for a debut, though it doesn't quite reach masterpiece status in my book. The train scene is amazing, though.
Rated 01 Dec 2016
neonmanNeonman
Rated 05 Sep 2013
65
24th
A real slice-of-life film, so much so that there doesn't feel like much of a backbone to the film's story or characters. It is photographed well and features some nifty music, but could've been more engaging for me
Rated 05 Sep 2013
sebbysebby
Rated 21 Dec 2010
88
97th
The score and cinematography off-set the brutality of what the film depicts. There is always some sort of lingering hope carried by one or more of the characters that is in one sense life-affirming, but in another (probably more honest) sense, totally heartbreaking. Great debut by Ray.
Rated 21 Dec 2010
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 05 Sep 2015
95
93rd
Viewed September 4, 2015.
Rated 05 Sep 2015
theyshoot07theyshoot07
Rated 01 Mar 2008
97
95th
# 57
Rated 01 Mar 2008
cosmicmonkeyCosmicMonkey
Rated 01 Nov 2017
83
77th
If you like beautiful, poetic films that quietly and thoughtfully ruminate the human condition, then this absolutely up your alley. If you like films, where the themes are evident and the story arcs are dramatic, than this maybe not your cup of tea.
Rated 01 Nov 2017
hotsakehotsake
Rated 15 Apr 2023
70
75th
The acting was good and for the most part, the direction and pacing were too, although, the movie was too repetitive for my taste and the mother character was really unlikable and one note.
Rated 15 Apr 2023
ratedarghratedargh
Rated 14 Mar 2015
95
92nd
After sitting on it for a day, I remain apprehensive in summarizing my thoughts in a capsule review. It's just a fantastic film top to bottom. If there is anything I'm iffy on, it's the transfer but that's hardly anyone's fault other than time. I hope that expected Criterion version comes out, soon.
Rated 14 Mar 2015
pratchett3Pratchett3
Rated 28 Jul 2017
7
50th
deals with a bunch of pretty simple low-level stuff, poor people having trouble affording food, having holes in their roof, their kids not being able to afford candy, etc, which I didn't find particularly engaging, but toward the end it just all comes together and breaks your goddamn heart
Rated 28 Jul 2017
ceekay19Ceekay19
Rated 17 Jun 2018
40
3rd
Harihar Ray: "Don't be anxious. Whatever God ordains is for the best."
Rated 17 Jun 2018
theyshoot08theyshoot08
Rated 19 Dec 2008
97
94th
59
Rated 19 Dec 2008
nargNarg
Rated 21 Jan 2021
86
90th
So much small detail that breathes life into everything going on. Apu's introduction is kind of transcendent and I love it.
Rated 21 Jan 2021
mattorama12mattorama12
Rated 09 Mar 2015
80
89th
Unfortunately, I was only able to get a very low quality transfer of this, which I think really hurt the viewing experience. Nonetheless, I loved the subtlety of the film and its attention to detail. Ravi Shankar's score may be the best I've ever heard. Overall, a great introduction to the cinema of my ancestral homeland. Looking forward to seeing the next installments of the Apu trilogy.
Rated 09 Mar 2015
lonewolf2003Lonewolf2003
Rated 13 Mar 2017
90
96th
the first in the famous Apu-trilogy focuses less on Apu himself and more on the women surrounding him. It's an amazing humane look at the kind of life these people lead.
Rated 13 Mar 2017
francogonzoFrancoGonzo
Rated 28 Feb 2016
17
93rd
Star Rating: ★★★★1/2
Rated 28 Feb 2016
napolenbradynapolenbrady
Rated 15 Mar 2019
94
93rd
94.00
Rated 15 Mar 2019
jschlanskyJSchlansky
Rated 07 Jan 2022
92
93rd
Does so much with so little. The story is simple, but the world isn't, not any longer. The non-actors are perfectly cast and do a good job. The wonderful sound design and music make for a strong sense of atmosphere. The setting is captivating and beautifully photographed with a lively yet observational camera, making this one of the best-looking movies of the 1950s.
Rated 07 Jan 2022
metismetis
Rated 06 Aug 2021
97
98th
10?Apu???????????/???????????????????????????????????????????????Apu??????????????????????????
Rated 06 Aug 2021
iyisinekiyisinek
Rated 29 Aug 2012
69
36th
fakirlik, komsunun bahcesinden elma calan kiz, oyun yazari issiz baba, is aramak icin sehre giden baba, sehre gidip haber alinamayan baba,ölen teyze, ölen kiz, göc (evi terk etmek), trene bakan cocuklar, yagmurda islanan cocuklar, üsütüp hasta olan kiz, parcalanan aile, Fakirlik üstüne hint filmi, bazen uzadigi hissine kapiliyorsunuz.
Rated 29 Aug 2012
nathanbatesNathanBates
Rated 13 Jan 2018
60
35th
Haunting character study that wanders without ever going far from where it started. Great cinematography, and definitely worth a re-watch.
Rated 13 Jan 2018
dardandardan
Rated 12 Jul 2018
95
97th
we are meaning-making machines. during the film, i found myself wanting to discover larger narratives, to place things in context, to find beauty in movements of structure, of its language. At the end of it, when it was over, however, all I found was life, poetry, the overriding of any structure, building, which at once also was its own conclusion: the absence of structure as its structure.
Rated 12 Jul 2018
sveneriksvenerik
Rated 23 Oct 2013
75
54th
I was really bored at first, but slowly become captivated by this deeply tragic, moving poem.
Rated 23 Oct 2013
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 19 Jan 2016
95
95th
De fato é um belo filme.
Rated 19 Jan 2016
judge_holdenJudge Holden
Rated 15 Jan 2012
5
69th
An important film that is enhanced by both the phenomenal acting and the desolate cinematography. The pace is appropriately languid and the story poetic in its minimalism. What drives it down is some amateurish editing and a lack of much psychological depth to any of the characters. It's a bit too simplistic, and the overall setting/theme just doesn't interest me.
Rated 15 Jan 2012
psimpsim
Rated 13 May 2019
75
49th
There's something about watching kids wander around the countryside and enjoy the simple pleasures of life that never fails to connect with me. A beautifully shot visit to another time and place that effortlessly moves between joy and tragedy. Probably a bit longer than it needed to be.
Rated 13 May 2019
oskarhuoskarhu
Rated 08 Jun 2015
83
87th
Good script and acting in a great setting. Everything works and seems real. Lacked excitement, though.
Rated 08 Jun 2015
xacviantxacviant
Rated 22 Jun 2015
89
89th
In a small Bengali village, Apu (Subir Bannerjee) and his sister Durga (Uma Das Gupta) grow up, while their long-suffering mother (Karuna Banerjee) balances worrying for them and for their father (Kanu Banerjee), who seems all too content to dream of a better future. A remarkable debut for Satyajit Ray, a bit sluggish in spots (and Apu is something of a non-entity) but vividly imagined, gorgeously shot and scored, and well-acted; Chunibala Devi's ancient Indir has an ageless magic to her.
Rated 22 Jun 2015
theyshoot10theyshoot10
Rated 13 Jan 2010
97
94th
64
Rated 13 Jan 2010
shockularSHOCKULAR
Rated 05 Jun 2022
76
62nd
Impeccably done movie with real-feeling characters focusing on themes like the toll taken by extreme poverty, family, pride, and lost dreams. A beautiful film, though ultimately I preferred the other two films of the Apu trilogy to this one. It is interesting to see how they live, though this kind of film, just a depiction of everyday life, has never been my favorite. Definitely as good a film as the material could lead to, though, and an impressive achievement.
Rated 05 Jun 2022
theyshoot11theyshoot11
Rated 30 Nov 2011
97
94th
#63
Rated 30 Nov 2011
larmorlarmor
Rated 30 Sep 2018
89
94th
Beautiful story and photography. It is of course strongly inspired by Italian neorealism, but it is also IMHO superior to it, as it manages to be less mechanical than a De Sica for example. It is sometimes pure poetry. The storm scene will remain with me a long time. I would guess Kiarostami was a big fan.
Rated 30 Sep 2018
gokseltuzungokseltuzun
Rated 10 Jan 2013
76
40th
tayfa kitap evi film gunleri kapsaminda edebiyat uyarlamalarinda izledigimiz ilk filmdi bana o kadar da guzel gelmedi ama samimiyeti umut'a benzerligi bizden bir hikaye gibi olmasi cekti ayrica Satyajit Ray ve ravisen kari cikaran onlari usta yapan yapimdir bu ellerine saglik
Rated 10 Jan 2013

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