[3.5/4.0]
(Dialog in Bengali, English subtitles)
This film is also known by the English title "Days and Nights in the Forest".
Trying to escape the pressures of their daily lives, four young men embark on a vacation to the rural forest. They are unsure what to expect, but they are eager to be able to focus on their adventure into the unknown. The leader of the group is Ashim (Soumitra Chatterjee). Sanjoy (Subhendu Chatterjee) is a docile office worker who rarely stands up or takes risks. It is not that he is a coward, but rather he always plays it safe. The ill-tempered Hari (Samit Bhanja) was recently jilted by his girlfriend, and as a result has some open issues to resolve. Finally, there is Shekhar (Robi Ghosh) who is self-confident and earnest, but often so much so that he is comical. The journey into the unknown of the forest unintentionally becomes a journey of self-discovery, as the decisions they make and the lessons they learn will change them.
The first decision they must make is in their accommodations. Being carefree young men, they have neglected to make any plans. The come across a rest house that suits their needs, but since they have not made reservations, they must bribe the caretaker in order to stay there. The caretaker knows he is risking his job, but his wife is ill and so he is in desperate need of the money. At the rural tavern, they stop for a drink, and encounter some of the people of the forest. They particularly notice the women who have no taboos about drinking in public like the women of the city would. Hari in particular is drawn to one of them, Duli (Simi Garewal), whose untamed quality enhances her appeal. The other men are more interested in the two obviously civilized women they chance to see walking near their bungalow one day. After following them to their cottage, they find that the women are also visitors to the forest. Aparna (Sharmila Tagore) is a strong, self-assured young woman who is staying in the vacation house with her father and widowed sister-in-law, Jaya (Kaberi Bose). What begins as casual social interaction between the men and the women eventually becomes more serious as they come to understand each other better. Although the men's interests often lead to funny, awkward situations, there are serious issues just beneath the surface.
Although it might appear to be a familiar premise, Satyajit Ray takes the story (written by Sunil Ganguli) and fashions an engrossing film. It is obvious that as the men enter the unknown surroundings and encounter new people, their reactions will be reflections of their own character. This is not a new approach, but what makes the story powerful is the unpredictability of the narrative, and the development of the characters. None of the characters are be slotted into a stereotype for easy digestion, and the eventual turn of events are not telegraphed. From an early point, the viewer gets immersed in the characters. Just as the characters stumble around to make sense of their situations, the viewer closely follows their actions. The most engaging episodes are when the men interact with the women, and the contortions they go through in their potentially romantic pursuits. Since a primary component of the story is this interaction, and because there is not a matching number (four men versus three women), it is clear that the story progression will not be a simplistic pairing off into couples.
The situations presented to the men are varied, and as the story progresses they become more serious and dramatic. However, the narrative keeps from becoming overly tense by the timely and effective use of humor. One particular scene involves the men being caught in an embarrassing position when the women unexpected drop by while they are bathing at a well. The structure of the comedy is simple and pure, and although the setup may sound stereotypical, the flawless execution makes it a particularly hilarious moment.
Of the four young men, Shekhar is the only character whose inner self is not examined. His heightened earnestness makes him a comic character, but Ghosh plays him perfectly so he does not become glaringly exaggerated. Striking this balance make it the standout performance. The other characters have differing degrees of complexity, but they are all handled well.
Highly recommended. This is both a powerful and entertaining film. There is both intense drama and light comedy. The story focuses on the many characters and develops them fully.
(c) 1999 Murali Krishnan The Art House Squatter http://ArtHouseSquatter.com
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