Ghare Baire

Ray's adaptation of the eponymous novel by Rabindranath Tagore, his most important work of fiction, tells the story of Bimalam, a Bengali woman caught between two men. They all get embroiled in the political events of 1905, when the British colonial power divided Bengal into two separate administrative districts, according to the principle of "divide and rule", giving rise to the Swadeshi movement. Bimalam's husband is a reserved liberal who is against acts of violence and supports his wife's emancipation. She is temporarily attracted to his revolutionary friend until she realizes his weaknesses. "When it comes to truthfulness about women’s lives this great filmmaker Ray shames the American and European directors of both sexes." (Pauline Kael) (gv)