Apur Sansar (The World of Apu) (1959)
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100% of critics liked it
(20 reviews) -
94% of users liked it
(3,608 ratings)
Originally released in India as Apur Sansar, The World of Apu was the last of Satyajit Ray's "Apu Trilogy." Pather Panchali (1955) covered Apu's early years in his native village, while Aparajito (1956) detailed his school years and the tragedy that temporarily brought him back… More Originally released in India as Apur Sansar, The World of Apu was the last of Satyajit Ray's "Apu Trilogy." Pather Panchali (1955) covered Apu's early years in his native village, while Aparajito (1956) detailed his school years and the tragedy that temporarily brought him back home. Now Apu (Soumitra Chatterjee), having abandoned college due to lack of money, hopes to find success as a writer. He is sidetracked from this goal when he meets Aparna (Sharmila Tagore), whose impending wedding is canceled when the groom turns out to be mentally unstable. To save Aparna from a custom-dictated life of spinsterhood, Apu marries her himself. When she dies giving birth, the grieving Apu cannot bring himself to meet his son, and in fact deserts the boy for five years before learning how to gracefully accept his lot in life. Like the other entries in the trilogy, The World of Apu was based on Bibhutibhusan Bandopadhaya's semi-autobiographical novel Aparajito. In the manner typical of his earlier works, director Ray adopts a straightforward, realistic approach, avoiding any sort of attention-getting directorial techniques, the better to simply tell his story. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Satyajit Ray
- Written By
- Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, Satyajit Ray
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 2003 Wide
Critic Reviews
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, TIME Magazine
The World of Apu completes, in alternations of suffering and joy, one of the most vital and abundant movies ever made.
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, Time Out
Great acting, remarkable use of locations, a humanistic ethos that's both wise and wary.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Director Satyajit Ray, with greater technical means, makes the truth of his relationships and the revelation of India the main trumps of the film. Wit, tenderness and intrinsic human revelations illuminate this unusual film.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Though the rhythm of the storytelling is choppy and Apu himself seems incompletely realized, the first appearance of the remarkable Sharmila Tagore as his well-to-do bride upgrades the film's middle section.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
An impressive capstone is put not only upon a touching human drama but also upon the development of a genuine artist's skill.
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Cast
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Soumitra Chatterjee
as Apurba Kumar Roy (Apu)
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Sharmila Tagore
as Aparna
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Shapan Mukerji
as Pulu
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S. Alke Chakravarty
as Kajal
- Alok Chakravarty
- Swapan Mukherji
- Swapan Mukherjee
- Dhiresh Majumdar
- Dhiren Ghosh
- Sefalika Devi
