Ray had not planned to make a sequel to Pather Panchali, doing so only after that film’s international success. Aparajito picks up where the first film leaves off, with Apu and his family having moved away from the country to live in the bustling holy city of Varanasi. As Apu progresses from wide-eyed child to intellectually curious teenager, we witness his academic and moral education, as well as the growing complexity of his relationship with his mother. This expressive, often heart-wrenching film, extends and spiritually deepens the tale of Apu.

Notes by David O’Mahony