Aparajito -One of the Best Films Ever- based on
the novel of the same name
A different
version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E
and
http://realini.blogspot.ro/
This the
second part of the trilogy Apu.
It was
listed by TIME Magazine as one of the best 100 films, a compilation that you
can find here:
In the
first part, Pather Panjali (noted here: http://notesaboutfilms.blogspot.ro/2017/03/note-on-acclaimed-pather-panchali.html
) the family of Apu suffers a double tragedy, with the death of Apu’s sister
and aunt.
They move
to Benares, but there is a similar poverty, if not complete destitution and
some repellent practices.
One character
talks about the money he saved and that he needs to have 500 rupees in order to
get a bride.
Even today,
from what I know, families prefer to have boys and when they see the sex of the
baby during pregnancy and she is a girl they opt for abortion.
On account
of the backwardness, lack of education in rural areas and slums, many women are
attacked.
That is
made worse by the lack of sanitation and plumbing, with many people using the outdoors
for necessities and therefore exposing women to violence and rape.
The face of
India that we see in this gem is a gentle one, if really poor, the streets
crawling with animals.
Of course,
the presence of cows, even in schoolyards and monkeys is part of the tolerant
tradition and religion of India.
There is a
small, funny scene wherein Apu’s mother fears one of the monkeys and stands back,
although the mood of the film is rather dark.
In the
temples, there are monkeys everywhere and Apu feeds them, together with other
men and women.
In this
poverty, there is sharing: when the family of Apu needs matches, for they are
that destitute, a neighbor is happy to oblige.
Alas, death
strikes again and this time it is Apu’s father, the priest who had to make a
daily effort in the scorching heat.
When the
father dies, there are many black birds flying, in a scene that has reminded me
of Poe and Hitchcock.
One aspect
which seemed to have gotten worse is the train ride, which in those days was
better than I see in photos today.
Although crowded
inside, at least the trains we see in this film did not have crowds on top and
hanging on the side.
With the
death of the family head and the only bread winner, the Apu family has to
reconsider the future.
A neighbor
offers help, suggesting that they move again, this time in the countryside in
the state of Bengal.
Apu wants
to go to school, but that costs money and they have practically nothing, except
for a few rupees saved by mother.
If he wants
to have an education he has to work and study, with the perspective of becoming
a priest like his father.
He has a
conflict with his mother at a later stage, when the option of going to
Calcutta- or Kolkata as it is called today- is raised.
She wants
her son to stay in the village, with her and respect the tradition which would
dictate that he becomes a priest.
But the boy
is brilliant and he wins the second place in the whole district, in spite of
having to be only a part time student.
In school,
there is an interesting scene when the inspector comes and invites pupils to
read about the state of Bengal:
-
It the greenest of them all
-
The language is like no other…
Finally, Apu
is allowed to go to study in Calcutta, where he has to work again, after he is
finished with class, in the afternoon.
His effort
in the printing shop takes a toll and he is falling asleep in class, attracting
his expulsion from one subject.
But Apu
will have time to recover and we will see in the last part his probable rise
and accomplishments.
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