Charulata

Satyajit Ray's film about a lonely, upper-class wife of a newspaper editor, set in British-run India during the late 19th century, is an intricate look at the effects of neglect and repressed desires. As her husband pours all his attention into his political publication, Charu - a lover of literature - develops a relationship with her husband's young cousin, an idealistic, flirtatious writer. The film contains nothing too radical by today's standards, considering our obsession with shock and graphicness, but in some ways that is a relief - within the conservative social setting the relationships are no less real, and the conflict develops with revealing subtlety. While the film seems very slow at times, the viewer's boredom ought to allow for greater empathy for the constantly idle life of the lonely Indian housewife. Fans of the soundtrack to Wes Anderson's Darjeeling Limited will recognize the director/composer Ray's beautiful title theme.

WORTH WATCHING
3.5 out of 5
Buy this film: Charulata

Plot: 3
Imagery: 3
Soundtrack: 4
Originality: 3
Overall: 3