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
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
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
KAKU KAKU SHIKA JIKA fka Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey
Adapted from acclaimed manga artist Akiko Higashimura’s autobiographical manga is a funny and sharply observed coming-of-age story about the creative awakening of a master of manga.
A Sad and Beautiful World
This Lebanese love story chronicles the romance between a level-headed businesswoman and a romantic restauranteur across several decades in wartorn Beirut. It's funny, charming, melancholy and you'll feel it all.
Blue Boy Trial
Transgender filmmaker Kasho Iizuka revisits 1960s Japan and the sensational “Blue Boy Trial,” sparked by the arrest of a doctor performing sex reassignment surgeries. With trans actors in central roles, the film powerfully illuminates buried history, identity, dignity, and resilience.
Aruku - I Walk
This meditative documentary, captures the stories of four contemporary pilgrims on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage as they follow in the footsteps of master Kūkai, the monk who shaped Japanese Buddhism. Each is burdened, in different ways, by exhaustion, solitude, or quiet disillusionment.
How Dare You?
A bug-loving boy, a passionate classmate, and a troublemaker launch playful eco-protests against their town’s careless habits. As their missions escalate, they face real consequences in Director O’s witty, bittersweet Grand Jury Prize winner from the Toronto Japanese Film Festival.