a wonderful film
I have the APU Trilogy on VHS along w/ "Devi" and another Ray film.
I won't add to the other reviews which are all positive for the films.
Being a rabid Beatle fan,I did find it sort of amusing to see the teen Apu as he first arrived in Calcutta look up to see the name "Harrison St."
on the wall of the building near where he arrived at. Hmmmm....,
I have seen these films many times and they are precious gems. The first film,Pather Panchali,reminds me alot of Ford's "The Grapes of Wrath".
Thank You George Harrison,without you,I might not've discovered the other-world (and still my world) of India and it's culture and people.

The Story Continues
It's been a few years since I saw "Pather Panchali" and I still remember a number of scenes vividly; especially the death of Apu's sister (oops that isn't giving anything away is it?). It shouldn't because death is in the supporting cast for all of the trilogy of Apu movies and "Aparajito" is no exception. We find Apu and his parents in a more urban environment than when we left them in "Pather Panchali". Apu is studying to become a priest of sorts but he is still drawn to the academic world. Trajedy ocurrs and an opportunity arises which eventually leads Apu to a scholarship to good school. The essence of "Aparajito" is the series of decisions that he makes. As with any young person emerging to adulthood, not all choices are easy nor do they all turn out the way you think they will.

Director Ray has done a masterful job of creating a family in India and endearing them to us to a degree that we share in every emotional swing they go through. Thus it is that "Aparajito" is both emotionally draing and emotionally uplifting. It isn't quite the equal of "Pather Panchali" but it is a worthy sequel.

brilliant film.....
This is the second installment in the "Apu Trilogy," by masterful Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray.
Apu (Pinaki Sengupta, as the young Apu and Smaran Ghosal, as the adolescent) has relocated with his mother (Karuna Bannerjee) and father (Kanu Bannerjee) to Banares. Apu's father is working as a medicine man there, and Apu is very ambitious to start school with the other young boys. This follows the life of this family, its joys, struggles and the choice Apu must make to either pursue the life of his father (as a priest) or venture out to Calcutta, as a scholarship student, to build a foundation for himself.

This film was shot beautifully and is really a great example of marvelous storytelling. Also, the acting is brilliant. The two young men who portray Apu as a child and a young man are wonderful and engaging--particularly Pinaki Sengupta whose eyes say so much in the scenes between him and his parents that there is very little need for dialogue. Beautiful.......

What makes a man?
This was the second entry of a famous Trilogy (Panther Pancahli was the first one and The world of Apu the last one). Satyajit Ray was essentially, a poet of the image, an untiring searcher of the total expression about cinema means. His notable traveling, his expressive close ups, the admirable sense of the contrasts, that confers him a superb status among the giants of the world cinema.

Aparajito is fundamentally, the story of a boy who becomes a man through a rigorous process of growing up. After his father's death. Apu decides to study in Calcutta, despite the ferrous opposition of his mother; so against all odds, he makes the journey(once more the unerring mythic seed beneath the plot), and he demonstrates to be a very clever and intelligent pupil. The adolescence is by definition, an age of sudden changes, meditations and doubts. Far from his birth land he will know and deal with those little miseries of the life but also with the significance of the personal effort as a continuous work in progress.

Arresting images, sharp contrasts with the Ganges river working out as a big frame, a realist script with towering performances make of this movie one of the best films in cinema's story without a bit of doubt.

A must-see.

Moving relationship between mother and son!
The Apu Trilogy was recently named in Time magazine's 100 greatest films. Satyajit Ray, 1921-1992, one of the world's finest directors was born into a family of elite that includes musicians, physicians, scientist, author, illustrator, photographer, singer, etc. Made in the late 50's, the trilogy is set in the 20's. Ray's career lists an impressive number of movies, books, documentaries, etc. Passionate for film at a very young age he was influenced by the greatest.

His movies capture humanistic elements - relationships, behaviors, social issues, conflicts. He allows the viewer to grasp these emotions that leave you thinking. Ray has been known to use memorable characters with distinguished faces.

If you plan on viewing this, see the Pather Panchali, the first of the trilogy. You will learn that the family experiences economic, ecological & emotional hardships. Tragedy strikes and the family moves to the city. Sarbojaya endured lonliness and desperation, and sheer frustration while living in poverty.

Now, in the second movie, Aparajito, Sarbojaya faces a life without a husband, and her remaining child begs for an education; wins a scholarship and travels to Calcutta for further studies. Like his father, Apu is now away from home on long stretches, as he will embark on a journey to be educated. His mother tries to make him feel guilty about leaving, with no one to care for her, but he isn't too concerned about her lonliness.

What puzzled me was that this appears to be a loving family, but when Apu goes away to Calcutta to study, or arrives for a visit, his mother and he do not as much as exchange a hug. Perhaps this is the custom, but I found it ironic.

This DVD is at times difficult to read, with white letters against no black background. And, unfortunately, the DVD lacks commentary!! How wonderful it would be to have had commentary about Ray and his vision as a director. If you value film from world's greatest directors, include Satyajit Ray ......MzRizz