Resumo de Our Films, Their Films

This is Satyajit Ray's first and only book in English on
cinema and should be part of every film buff's library. As
the title suggests, the author discusses the
characteristics of Western films (pre-dominantly Hollywood,
and some Italian and British movies) and Indian films to
throw light on the art and science of film making, nuances
of his own craft, his choice of artists, his thoughts on
cinematography and music. Besides, the book also carries
excerpts from his personal experience.

The first
section is devoted to Indian films where the author
highlights the need for developing skill and temperament in
creating works of art under conditions of deprivation.
Obviously, he found it lacking among Indian film makers who
were either busy peddling muddled notions of the so-called
indigenous art form or blindly copying the Western style,
however out-of-place in the Indian environment.

Few
diary-like chapters capture moments of ecstacy, tension and
hectic schedules while shooting for films like the Apu
trilogy and Jalshaghar. He also discusses at length the
life and times of three international figures ? all masters
in their own right ? Akira Kurosawa, Charlie Chaplin and
Jene Renoir. In elaborating on the Italian neo-realism
cinema, he remembers a few Italian movies including the
celebrated Bicycle Thieves ? a film that inspired Ray to
make his first film Pather Panchali. He advises Indian film
makers to study Vittorio Desica ? the director of the film ?
to grasp the nuances so very tailored for the Indian
scene ? where finances and resources are always in
scarcity.

Ray beautifully summarizes the commercial
characteristics of the bustling Bombay film industry with a
special tribute to the innovative spirit of Hindi film
numbers in recreating popular Western music into convincing
desi versions with amazing regularity. Among the offbeat
Indian films, Ray discusses at length four features films
including M. S. Sathyu?s Garm Hawa, Shyam Benegal?s Nishant
and Mani Kaul?s Duvidha.

The book is a great
reference book, a travelogue, a collection of essays and
film reviews and a diary ? all in one- much like the genius
of the great director who had his stamp of creativity in
every sphere including direction, music, cinematography,
screenplay, writing and illustrations.

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