Pather Panchali Review

Finding ourselves like a bemused observer, Pather Panchali presents a narrative that throws us into the midst of life, landing headfirst into a family located in India. Impoverished, clinging on to the hope of a better life for himself and his family, Harihar Ray (Kanu Bannerjee) holds his family together as best he can in this 50s drama from director Satyajit Ray. An adaptation of the novel of the same name, and with no real script at hand, Pather Panchali focuses in on the natural charms of its cast and the free-flowing style of its narrative, lacking the restrictions of a traditional script.

It shouldn’t work as well as it does, but the conviction and streamlined emotive value of the piece is on show frequently and clearly. Whilst it’s easy to be whisked away on the journey our characters face, it’s a completely grounded one that relies on its ability to coax an audience into liking its characters. Whether you connect with these characters or not, the message of where true happiness comes from and belongs is crystal clear, an uplifting message to hold onto as the film moves on through various tragedies or missteps. The natural flow of the film is admirable, making for some thoroughly engaging, detailed characters and identifiable issues that feel as fresh and contemporary as they did in the 1950s.

Much of the film is focused in on one family, and the issues they face. Highs and lows can be found intermittently, and with such dedicated pacing from Ray’s direction, Pather Panchali finds a voice of its own relatively easy. It feels a bit like a slice of life, but with real consequences for a family of likeable characters and solid performers. Drawing off of the culture throughout this period of time in India, Pather Panchali emulates a typical family, one that suffers from financial burdens, intolerable neighbours and manages to paint a relatively engaging piece surrounding the various hardships the family go through.

It’s all extremely interesting, well performed and without question a thoroughly emotive piece. Character-driven from start to finish, with an unrelenting, realistic view of its protagonists. It captures this period so well, with a reliance on these performances to capture frustrations, love and all the eclectic emotions found in the middle. Finding the light in dark times isn’t something new to cinema, but what Pather Panchali can do with such a basic premise is mesmerising. A real feat of quality, Ray’s direction holds together some marvellous performances and a keen eye for exquisite directing style.