“(The second entry in Satyajit Ray’s Apu Trilogy, after Pather Panchali,) Aparajito continues the story of the Bengali family after they leave their home to travel to the holy city of Benares on the banks of the Ganges. The boy Apu proceeds a little further along the road of experience and the viewpoint of the film changes with his. While Pather Panchali is primarily a matter of experiences, Aparajito shows Apu more in his personal and human relationships, above all in his changing relationship with his mother. Ray observes with remarkable insight and discretion the theme of sacrifice which parents may make in equipping their children for a world which they can never really share. In the latter half of the film, when Apu leaves his mother to go to the University of Calcutta, there is a subtle change in mood: the drama of city life contrasts with the simplicity of Apu's background, and the characterization of Apu lies in the heart of modern India.”



—Albert Johnson, SFIFF 1958

• Written by Ray, from the novel by Bibhutibhushana Bandyopadhyaya. Photographed by Subrata Mitra. With Kanu Banerjee, Karuna Banerjee, Pinaki Sen Gupta, Smaran Ghosal. (106 mins, In Bengali with English subtitles, B&W, 35mm, From Academy Film Archive, permission Arora Films)