The Stranger

One of the greatest films I have ever seen, it is directly comparable with his second movie (pather Panchali) as his finest till date. The movie is all about family relationships and the idea of money. He knows how to direct the regular 'life', pitched in reality and his movies give enough reason for us to understand his brilliance. Utpal Duttas performance is mesmerizing and together , with Ray's sublime direction and Utpal's sensitive,sensational acting this movie is a masterpiece for 'teachers' and 'students'. Just Brilliant. Stop watching mindless movies of Spielberg and direct your valuable time towards Ray, Kurosawa, Chang wook park, Truffaut, Eisenstein, Ritwik Ghatak, Pudovkin, Kieslowski, Almadovar, Antonino, Godard, Wong kar Wai, Fellini, Bertolucci, Makmalbaf, Kiarostami, Bergman, Wajda, Jeunet, Szabo etc

What a beautiful film, full of subtleties and ironies. It requires one to contemplate the nature of identity and what one really wants in life. How well do we know our relatives; and, more importantly, how well do we know ourselves? The film beautifully portrays a wide range of emotions with sensitivity as well as hummer. It also includes a mesmerizing indigenous dance performance which contrasts the middle-class world of the protagonists, awakening them to another world. The "stranger" or the long-lost uncle is a marvel, evoking laughter and tears. All in all, delightful throughout. For some reason foreign cinema continues to go unrecognized, while American studios continue to invest inaction movies that only insult intelligence to an already overly ridiculed nation. Watch it you will enjoy it immensely.

This remarkable film is in many ways a self portrait of Satyajit Ray because he was none other than an anthropologist and philosopher in the true sense of playful, childlike wonder. This is the the story of how how a life of curiousity and wonder have to survive in this cruel and foolish world which judges everything in materialistic terms. The philosopher is always and everywhere a stranger,though full of joy, simplicity and wonder at Being which is fervently demonstrated in the 'cosmic magician' sequence. Only those with the child in them alive will understand!

A well-off family is paid an unexpected, and rather unwanted, visit by a man claiming to be the woman's long-lost uncle. The initial suspicion with which they greet the man slowly dissolves as he regales them with stories of his travels, tales that are at odds with their conventional middle-class perspective on the world.

This film is notable for being Satyajit Ray's final project. He may be best known for the s-called "Apu Trilogy" much earlier in his career. But, to be honest, I enjoyed "Stranger" far more. It was more polished, had a more intelligent script and dialogue. It is something of a masterful movie.

As I often say in reviews, I am not typically a fan of Indian / Bengali films. I rarely see one -- even those considered the best -- that I enjoy. But I would wholeheartedly endorse "The Stranger".

What civilization we have created in the name of being social animal? What is the real civilization –the tribal one or the one our progressive society has been carrying from the very day of urbanization? Although these are not the questions we often dwell ourselves into; but that's what great film makers like Satyajit Ray stroke at in subtle films like this one.

What happens if any stranger becomes a part of your regular life for whom you carry a suspension of disbelief? Some times we come to know that stranger in the most intimate moment of one's life. If one thinks too deeply, this film also questions the very human notion of knowing or unknowing which always remains limited and relative in every individual case. In the name of civilization and sophisticated comfort, sometimes we forget to be human in its true sense and this film by Ray is just showing the reflection image with mild and touchy story to nourish in your film watching experience.

An unexpected and rather unwanted stranger visits the upper middle class Bengali family claiming to be the woman's long lost uncle back to Kolkota after 35 years of his roaming the world. The initial suspicion with which they greet the man slowly dissolves as he starts telling them the stories of his travels; tales which are at odds to conventional middle class perspective of Bengali family. The suspicious husband arranged an intelligent trap to nab him. The story takes an interesting turn as it progress further.

Utpal Dutt is perfect casting choice of Ray for playing 'To be or not to be uncle' who represents suave, intelligent and rational free thinker. However Dutt looks too old compared to his early films; he carried the lead role with his magnetic personality and well presence of character. The film also has some staunch Bengali art house actors like Dhritiman Chattejee, Mamata Shankar, and Deepankar De.

Ray seems so relevant even today. Yes you were right sir; we are still 'Kupmonduk' but we strive not to be one. Highly Recommended for all those who loves to watch meaningful cinema.