Distant Thunders (Ashani Sanket)

1973 – 100 min – Original version w. FR subs

Another adaptation of a novel by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay (1894-1950), the Bengali writer on whom Satyajit Ray got inspired for The Apu Trilogy, this colour film tells the story, in 1942, of a Brahmin installed with his wife and who takes advantage of the credulity of the people of a village in Bengal by taking on the roles of teacher, doctor and spiritual director. He is an impostor who abuses the rights of his caste, he doesn't know Sanskrit at all and demonstrates an inevitable degradation of the traditional values of India. A humanist and sensual movie which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin festival in 1973.

The Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray (1921-1992), who was born in Calcutta, remains one of the greatest poets in cinema history. Of the 37 films of his imposing career, ARSMONDO offers 5 of his most accomplished works, which combine an ability to create engaging and complex characters struggling with an arduous reality and a look at the evolution of Bengali society in particular. Satyajit Ray received an Oscar for his work in 1992.