SATYAJIT RAY

Director Shyam Benegal / 1985 / India

This documentary is Shyam Benegal's tribute to his peer Satyajit Ray. Benegal allows Ray to tell his own story, that of his life and work, without interference.

Ray outlines the story of his life and discusses autobiographical elements in his films. Excerpts from Ray's films often do not have subtitles, forcing the non-Bengali speaking audience to concentrate on the distinct visual style.

Also of interest are the cultural implications of Ray's comments that his education allowed him to appreciate Western art more easily than Eastern. Such a fact may help explain Ray's accessibility to Western audiences, and the tendency to see his work as a blend of Eastern contemplation and Western humanism.

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