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Trailer

Pather Panchali

1955Movie2 h 5 min

DramaHistory
91
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.2Rotten Tomatoes98%93%

A profoundly sad, slow-burning drama movie about history and growing up, with standout world-building and characters.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want something to laugh at · you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, scares or adrenaline.

Movies with

Story

Impoverished priest Harihar Ray, dreaming of a better life for himself and his family, leaves his rural Bengal village in search of work. Alone, his wife, Sarbojaya, looks after her rebellious daughter, Durga, and her young son, Apu, as well as Harihar's elderly aunt Indir. The children enjoy the small pleasures of their difficult life, while their parents suffer the daily indignities heaped upon them.

Feels like

  • Bengali Cinema
  • Rural India
  • Impoverished Family
  • Coming-of-Age
  • Social Realism
  • Poetic Cinematography
  • Nostalgic Atmosphere
  • Early 20th Century

Cast

10 of 10

Crew

Directed by
Satyajit Ray
Written by
Satyajit Ray, Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay
Produced by
Satyajit Ray, Bansi Chandragupta
Music by
Ravi Shankar

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

August 26, 1955 · 2 h 5 min · Drama, History

Released
August 26, 1955
Runtime
2 h 5 min
Genres
Drama, History
Original language
Bangla
Made in
India
Budget
$31,500
Box office
$536,364
Available in
136 countries

Tropes

Coming of Age Story, Impoverished Patrician, Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy +9

  • Coming of Age Story
  • Impoverished Patrician
  • Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy
  • Parental Favoritism
  • What Beautiful Eyes!
  • Blade-of-Grass Cut
  • Random Events Plot
  • Annoying Younger Sibling
  • Match Cut
  • Bratty Half-Pint
  • Untranslated Title
  • Scenery Porn

12 of 18 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Pather Panchali?"

Questions about Pather Panchali

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Pather Panchali?

HBO MaxKanopyCriterionPlexHoichoiFawesomeTubi TV

In the United States, Pather Panchali streams on HBO Max, Criterion, and Hoichoi, and it is free with ads on Kanopy, Plex, Fawesome, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 135 other countries.

Is Pather Panchali worth watching?

91
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 91 (IMDb 8.2 and Rotten Tomatoes 98%). Critics rate it higher (98 out of 100) than audiences (88).

Is Pather Panchali okay for kids?

Yes: the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Is Pather Panchali plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is Pather Panchali in English?

Bangla

No, it was made in Bangla.