Sadgati (Satyajit Ray, 1981)

Well, it’s been quite some time since the last post. This is also the 100th post on this blog! Wee! Alright, let’s get on with it.

Sadgati, or Deliverance, is a fairly short film by Satyajit Ray, running at only 45 minutes. However, it is a great example of some of Ray’s best touches and skills, as well as a fine short film in its own right. The story is straight forward, and even though I didn’t understand all the Indian customs and what they implied, the character motivation and desire is very clear.

The story follows Dukhi, a tanner who wants help from a local Brahmin, or holy man, to set a date for his daughter’s wedding. However, it turns out that this “holy man” is somewhat of a lazy bastard, and only through doing some meaningless chores around the house can Brahmin get him to come to his house. Meanwhile, the film cuts back to the home where his wife and daughter are carefully preparing for the Brahmin who they believe will soon turn up. Dukhi does all the chores the Brahmin ask of him, but one is too hard to complete: he has to cut up a log outside the house. However, the log is huge and he only has a small axe. The majority of the film is Dukhi trying to cut up this log, as well as some more scenes with the daughter and wife, as well as a look into the Brahmin’s inner life.

What the film does well, and Ray usually does exceptionally well, is to create such strong drama to small events. It is a simple story and the progression is fairly conservative, but Ray manages to create genuine emotions and a comment on the human condition through this little fable. It’s what really makes Ray such a unique filmmaker. Although this film, much because of its limited playing time, is not quite up to par with his other major films, it has all the touches and elements that makes Ray great, but is worth seeing in its own right, not just because it is a Ray film. It takes a simple set up and runs with it. The emotional impact of the end, and some of Ray’s camerawork, is truly excellent. There are also great moments of subtle comedy, like the first time Dukhi sees the log, walks around it mystified, and you know he’s thinking “what the fuck do I do with this?” Or when he goes into the house of the Brahmin to ask for light for his smoke, and the Brahmin’s wife becomes furious “how dare a commoner ask such things!?” Another great moment is where a young man who is mourning over his dead wife comes to the Brahmin for advice. The Brahmin says it’s okay, he can always get a new wife. He himself is already on his third!

The DVD version I have came with The Satyajit Ray Collection Volume 3 box set. I have yet to see the other two, but I will soon though. I would like to recommend the volume 1 & 2 box sets, as well as the Apu Trilogy box set, they all have fantastic value, and Ray is truly one of the greats of world cinema. Like Kurosawa said, not to have seen the cinema of Ray is like never having seen the sun or the moon. Go check him out.