Charulata (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

I could not disagree that this is a great film. Moving and subtle in its treatment of deep emotions, with great acting. Unfortunately, the sound quality of the DVD was really poor. Full of static, and sometimes shaky. As other reviewers pointed out, the screen was often very dark, and facial details couldn't be seen clearly when they mattered. In addition, some important lines were not translated in the subtitles. Such a great film deserves to be restored by Criterion! I'll make a few more comments on the camera work, assuming that the DVD captured it accurately: the scene with Charu on the swing was interesting, with more adventurous camera work, compared with the earlier Apu trilogy and Devi. The scene with the storm, just before Amol arrived, was also done to great effect. Yet it is Ray's sense of drama and timing, and his ability to draw out the subtleties of emotions, that make his films great. I'm not convinced that the lighting was as good as it should be, although it is difficult to tell from the DVD. There were some awkward jumps, and in some shots, e.g. of shoes or feet, the timing or the framing didn't seem quite right to me.The excellent bio of Satyajit Ray by Andrew Robinson mentions several things that might be unclear to Western viewers. The 19th century romantic novelist Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was influential at the time of the story, and he encouraged Rabindranath Tagore, whose "Nastanirh" was the source for the film. Before agreeing to cooperate with the bio, Ray told Robinson that he needed to learn Bengali. In his chapter on Charulata, Robinson tells of the many allusions, especially to Bankim, that are used in the dialogue of the film. As Amon is an aspiring writer, and Charu shows her ability to write, writing is a major theme of the film, and these allusions - which I can't appreciate fully - must contribute to the texture of the story. The contrast between the imaginative life of literature and the more mundane political life is comically evident when Amon tries to read a poem, and Bhupati won't let him get past the first line, with his literal quibbling. The "man of the world" has no chance in this contest, because both Tagore and Ray are the poetic creators of the story!I'll wait for a better DVD before viewing this film again. Ideally, the translation should be more complete, with subtitles that last long enough to be read, and supplemental material to provide more insight into the literary allusions. Cleaning up the sound track should be easy. I have a 55" screen of good quality, and I would hope that a better DVD would show this film as well as it appeared in theatres.

This Indian movie has motivated me to explore more Indian cinema. Beautifully filmed in black and white. The story is a simple one. Very little happens, very subtle, yet it captivated my attention. Highly recommend for those who enjoy movies that aren’t about super heroes or gory crimes.

I watched this as part of a our own private Ray retrospective--the Apu Trilogy and The Big City. This emerged as my favorite for a number of reasons. Here I will mention only the wonderfully subtle way that Ray uses sound to create a sense of spatial and social insulation. As a woman, Charulata is confined to her luxurious house by custom; she cannot wander on the street unaccompanied, and in the film she never leaves the house. Ray plots out the parameters of the house in the opening minutes, as she looks out of windows from different rooms in the house onto the activities of the street. This sets up the spatial opposition, but Ray reinforces it subtly by the ambient noise we hear from the street through various subsequent scenes.

A true classic from the genious of Rabindranath Tagore. In this excruciatingly poignant film, the slow-paced daily cadence and rhythm of life in India in the 1880's is perceived as a major player in the life of Charulata. The film is keenly observant and expressive in rendering Charulata's reflexions and response to living her life in quiet desperation. In this nuanced film that which is not spoken speaks very loudly and the symbolism which may not be not always be apparent will profoundly and assuredly weave its way through you to the core.

Amazing picture and sound quality given how old this movie is! Charulata is my favorite Satyajit Ray movie... His interpretation of Rabindranath Tagore's The Broken Nest (Noshto Needh) is a testament to Ray's attention to detail & his ability to read in between the lines. I highly recommend owning a copy of this film - truly worth it!

Despite the poor quality of images, one can still understand why this is a collectible.The sharpness and attention to detail in this film speak volumes. The cast is well-chosen and Ray's eye for focus on subtle body language is what sold it to me.I say "great film" along with Ray's Music Room.

You owe yourself the exquisite pleasure of watching this magnificent Indian (Bengali, not Bollywood) film. I couldn't step away -- except when the Publishers' Clearinghouse folks rang, with my $10,000 check, AT LAST! But seriously -- if you don't love this film, you aren't human!

Wonderful director, the story not so great. But it is a clean movie and shows the psychology of that time.

The film is superb and this DVD is near spotless.

Love this film so much. Delivered quickly, all in good order :)

A sensible and profound film from one of the world greatest directors.

In contrast to the product description, this Blu-ray had a US A region code and - although bought via Amazon.nl - was useless for a B region player in the EU/ Netherlands. Returning the item did not result in a refund from the seller.

Como casi siempre con Syajit Ray (¿se escribe así? ), visualmente "Charulata" es impactante; la cámara recorre salones, jardines, suntuosos decorados y bellos rostros (las dos protagonistas). Dramáticamente, el film es un poco menos satisfactorio, pues la historia tiene varias subtramas y derivaciones ligeramente forzadas. En cualquier caso, uno de los mejores Ray junto con "La diosa" y "El salón de música".