Charulata
Directed by Satyajit Ray
Written by Satyajit Ray from a story by Rabindranath Tagore
1964/India
R.D. Banshal & Co.
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental
[box] “You smiled and talked to me of nothing and I felt that for this I had been waiting long.” ― Rabindranath Tagore[/box]
Satyajit Ray had a special understanding of women. Here he makes a film about the loneliness of a gifted one.
It is late 19th Century Bengal. Charulata (Madhabi Mukherjee) is married to Bhupati, the editor of a Bengali political paper that speaks its mind on issues of the day. He is totally consumed with his buisness and cause. Realizing that his wife is dying of boredom and loneliness, he invites his brother-in-law, sister, and young cousin Amal to live with them. The brother-in-law criticizes the management of the paper and Bhupati turns the day-to-day operations over to him so he can concentrate on editorial issues.
Charulata has nothing in common with the brother-in-law and sister but is drawn to the dreamy, literary Amal. He encourages her to write. It turns out she is better at it than he is. Guilt, soul-searching, and betrayal ensues.
This is another the line of Satyajit Ray films in which everyone is trying to the right thing (with one notable exception here) but all are working at cross purposes. It’s a beautiful story stunningly filmed. Recommended.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGkv2Y2YpQE
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