The River (1951)
The film made in technicolor was shot totally in Bengal and was the launchpad of Satyajit Ray's career. At a glance it looks like a young girl's coming-of-age film about love and growing up but if we were to analyse, they are a lot of things buried in its story. Sometimes, it also sound like a documentary with many shots of River Ganges, peasants at work, in their natural habitat and celebrations (Diwali and Holi) with the recurrent voice overs.
The story revolves around Harriet, a young teenage girl, who grows up with 4 other younger sisters and a much younger brother in a well to do Caucasian family living by the Ganges with the help of servants and nanny.
Her neighbour, Mr John, has an American visitor, a dashing young serviceman (Capt. John) with one leg. Harriet and her slightly elder friend, Valerie are both infatuated with him. Mr John is now a widower (his Hindu Indian wife deceased) with a daughter, Melanie, who has a serious identity crisis - whether he is Western or Eastern.
Capt John is rather depressed after losing his leg in war and try to come in terms with it.
Harriet is trying to grow too fast for her own good, trying to woo the Captain. She is devastated when she caught Valerie kissing him.
In the meantime, Harriet's brother, the boisterous outdoors boy succumbs to cobra bite. Harriet feels guilty for not taking care of her brother. She runs away from home but is saved by the friendly boatmen.
Captain John return to America to his life and life by the Ganges slowly returns to normal. The loss is slowly forgotten with the arrival of Harriet youngest sister.
Another point highlighted in the movie is how the visitors (British) easily accepted the Hindu culture and beliefs into their life and no qualms of practising their own religion in this land where animistic practices (some will say appreciating nature) were part of daily living.
The film made in technicolor was shot totally in Bengal and was the launchpad of Satyajit Ray's career. At a glance it looks like a young girl's coming-of-age film about love and growing up but if we were to analyse, they are a lot of things buried in its story. Sometimes, it also sound like a documentary with many shots of River Ganges, peasants at work, in their natural habitat and celebrations (Diwali and Holi) with the recurrent voice overs.The story revolves around Harriet, a young teenage girl, who grows up with 4 other younger sisters and a much younger brother in a well to do Caucasian family living by the Ganges with the help of servants and nanny.
Her neighbour, Mr John, has an American visitor, a dashing young serviceman (Capt. John) with one leg. Harriet and her slightly elder friend, Valerie are both infatuated with him. Mr John is now a widower (his Hindu Indian wife deceased) with a daughter, Melanie, who has a serious identity crisis - whether he is Western or Eastern.
Capt John is rather depressed after losing his leg in war and try to come in terms with it.
Harriet is trying to grow too fast for her own good, trying to woo the Captain. She is devastated when she caught Valerie kissing him.
In the meantime, Harriet's brother, the boisterous outdoors boy succumbs to cobra bite. Harriet feels guilty for not taking care of her brother. She runs away from home but is saved by the friendly boatmen.
Captain John return to America to his life and life by the Ganges slowly returns to normal. The loss is slowly forgotten with the arrival of Harriet youngest sister.
Another point highlighted in the movie is how the visitors (British) easily accepted the Hindu culture and beliefs into their life and no qualms of practising their own religion in this land where animistic practices (some will say appreciating nature) were part of daily living.
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