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The Home and the World

Play trailer Poster for The Home and the World Released May 22, 1984 2h 20m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
In the early 1900s, Nikhilesh (Victor Banerjee), a wealthy Westernized Hindu in colonial East Bengal, feels compelled to test the love of his wife, Bimala (Swatilekha Chatterjee). He introduces her to his friend Sandip (Soumitra Chatterjee), a politician agitating against British rule, and Bimala is equally taken with both Sandip's anti-colonial fervor and the man himself. Personal and political tensions subsequently flare as the now assertive Bimala has to make a crucial decision.

Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker When it comes to truthfulness about women’s lives, this great Indian moviemaker Satyajit Ray shames the American and European directors of both sexes. Sep 13, 2023 Full Review Peter Rainer Los Angeles Herald Examiner More than any other director, Satyajit Ray is aware of the talismanic power in the ordinary. It’s not just the people in his film who carry mythic overtones; so do the objects -- the chairs, tables, rugs, clothing. Aug 9, 2022 Full Review Walter Goodman New York Times Here is India through impeccably Indian eyes. Dec 14, 2017 Full Review Jimmy Cage Jimmy Cage Movie Reviews (YouTube) THE HOME AND THE WORLD is a complex story about nonviolence and violence, about emancipation and the seductions of the world. And its also a typical Ray film thoughtful, slow and driven by profound dialogue. Rated: 7/10 Apr 25, 2022 Full Review Ian Buruma The New York Review of Books A masterpiece compared to most movies in India, or anywhere else... Aug 13, 2018 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews It's a lengthy but elegant film that is grandly acted by the three principals. Rated: B+ Mar 22, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member one of the best international films ever! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Un des grands films de Satyajit Ray, quel fabuleux metteur en scene ! Une belle leçon aussi sur la tolerance, les conflits entre hindous et musulmans au Bengale...quel contraste avec les films Bollywood qu'on a l'habitude de voir et que j'aime aussi pour leur cote Kitch ! Du vrai bon cinema..A ne pas manquer si vous avez l'occasion de le voir..Il passe au Reflet Medicis. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Combines the political themes of Ganashatru with the extra-marital temptation of Charulata. On the first count, it succeeds admirably, weaving a complex issue. Although Ray clearly sympathizes more with Nikhil, it's not as blatantly one-sided as Ganashatru. As for the budding affair, that plotline isn't as deft and gets too melodramatic, but at least it's convincing. Technically, the film is far superior to most of Ray's color films, even majestic. Not a brilliant movie, but a very good one. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member This is just a template of everything and anything Satyajit Ray has made. In my opinion there isn't a more prolific and versatile director in the world. Ghare Baire has lot of subtleties probably observed and appreciated by someone who grew up in India watching the patriotic bollywood flicks. The otherwise puritan patriot has a gray personality. One the one hand he opposes the rich muslim traders but likes the lavish lifestyle and makes his friend's wife finance it. The subtlety of the affair between these two is also remarkable, very anit-western ..where an affair can only culminate in sex beneath the sheets with a post coital cigarette smoking scene. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member another exquisite ray film from tagore's story Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member great film.. Perfect in every respect of film.. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Home and the World

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Cast & Crew

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Satyajit Ray

Director

Victor Banerjee

Nikhilesh Choudhury

Soumitra Chatterjee

Sandip Mukherjee

Swatilekha Chatterjee

Bimala Choudhury

Gopa Aich

Sister-in-law

Jennifer Kendal

Miss Gilby

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The Home and the World

The Home and the World (1984) The Home and the World (1984) The Home and the World (1984) The Home and the World (1984) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In the early 1900s, Nikhilesh (Victor Banerjee), a wealthy Westernized Hindu in colonial East Bengal, feels compelled to test the love of his wife, Bimala (Swatilekha Chatterjee). He introduces her to his friend Sandip (Soumitra Chatterjee), a politician agitating against British rule, and Bimala is equally taken with both Sandip's anti-colonial fervor and the man himself. Personal and political tensions subsequently flare as the now assertive Bimala has to make a crucial decision.
Director
Satyajit Ray
Screenwriter
Satyajit Ray
Distributor
Artificial Eye
Production Co
National Film Development of India
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Bangla
Release Date (Theaters)
May 22, 1984, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 8, 2019
Runtime
2h 20m