The Big City, the great Satyajit Ray’s first portrayal of contemporary life in his native Kolkata, follows the personal triumphs and frustrations of Arati (Madhabi Mukherjee), who decides, despite the initial protests of her bank-clerk husband, to take a job to help support their family.
Discovering Satyajit Ray’s work felt like relearning a part of my own history. His characters feel like family, as they struggle to navigate South Asian society in all its complexity. From his storied filmography, The Big City is the film I always return to—a film remarkable for its commentary on capitalism and patriarchy. In the middle of this, we meet Arati, essayed by screen legend Madhabi Mukherjee. I would say Arati’s strength and vulnerability were my single largest inspiration for the performances in In Flames. She is both innocent and world-weary, and her rich interiority can be felt with the raising of an eyebrow.
’Eating our daily bread has made us cowards,’ Arati’s husband, Subrata, whispers to her as the film reaches its tumultuous conclusion. Ray’s ability to unflinchingly scrutinize society, while still offering hope, speaks to why he is remembered as one of the greatest directors of all time. The Big City asks you to put up your feet after an exhausting day, and to share a cup of tea with old friends, knowing that it is friendship and community that make our lives just a bit easier.
Zarrar Khan, Leading Lights Curator
Supported by
Anil Chatterjee, Madhabi Mukherjee, Jaya Bhaduri
India
1963
In Bengali and English with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Credits & Director
Producer
R.D. Bansal
Screenwriter
Satyajit Ray
Cinematography
Subrata Mitra
Editor
Dulal Dutta
Production Design
Bansi Chandragupta
Original Music
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was a renowned Indian filmmaker, born in Kolkata in 1921. His acclaimed debut feature, Pather Panchali (1955), marked the beginning of the Apu Trilogy and earned him international recognition. Ray’s films, including Charulata (1964) and The Chess Players (1977), are noted for their humanistic approach and social commentary. His contributions to cinema were honoured with an Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1992, the same year he passed away.
Filmography: Pather Panchali (1955); Aparajito (1956); The World of Apu (1959); Charulata (1964); The Chess Players (1977); The Stranger (1991)
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Misericordia
Edgy, eccentric, and unapologetically queer, this film goes from drama to comedy without putting a foot wrong. Sex and murder are the subjects, and writer-director Alain Guiraudie (Stranger by the Lake) mines them for suspense and outrageous laughs.
The Stand
This rousing doc explores a 1985 dispute over logging in the Haida Gwaii. Taking us from canny retrospective commentary to the thick of the action, director Chris Auchter employs animation and a wealth of archival footage to riveting effect.
Julie Keeps Quiet
When her coach falls under investigation for inappropriate behaviour, a young tennis ace is thrown into turmoil. Her reluctance to testify about her experience puts her at odds with the club, her parents and her friends.
Resident Orca
Captured in Puget Sound in 1970, killer whale Lolita spent the next half century in a cramped tank in Seaquarium, Miami. The film follows a coalition of Lummi elders, animal lovers and philanthropists on a rescue mission to return her to the ocean.
The Way, My Way
All manner of pilgrims flock to France and Spain to walk the 800 km Camino de Santiago. One such is Bill, a stroppy sexagenarian Australian filmmaker who's determined to do the Camino with minimal prep, a dickey leg, and no firm idea why.