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Dayamayee (Sharmila Tagore) is happily married to Umaprasad (Soumitra Chatterjee - The World of Apu), the son of an upper-class family in 19th Century Bengal. This changes when a vision convinces her father-in-law (Chabbi Biswas - The Music Room) that she is the Goddess Kali returned to earth. He coaxes Dayamayee to fulfill her role as a living deity and transforms the house into a temple for her worship. The new Goddess is soon visited by the poor and sick from across the land. Shaken by their suffering, she performs her divine duty out of human compassion. But inevitably her plight as a woman made Goddess wears her down; the incense burnt as offering makes her suffocate and takes hold of her sanity.
Satyajit Ray's keen vision and lyrical approach to narrative makes Goddess a deeply enigmatic film, simultaneously uncertain and curious in the face of the supernatural. In its initial release, the film raised the ire of religious leaders across India. Despite the controversy, it won the President s Gold Medal. It also received a nomination for the Palme d'Or at Cannes, six years after Pather Panchali received a special award at the same festival, cementing Ray's international repute.
Satyajit Ray's keen vision and lyrical approach to narrative makes Goddess a deeply enigmatic film, simultaneously uncertain and curious in the face of the supernatural. In its initial release, the film raised the ire of religious leaders across India. Despite the controversy, it won the President s Gold Medal. It also received a nomination for the Palme d'Or at Cannes, six years after Pather Panchali received a special award at the same festival, cementing Ray's international repute.
Review
Ray's study of the destructive power of superstition is typically compassionate...Intelligent and moving --Total Film
Bears all the hallmarks of Ray's best work: gracefulness, exquisite pacing and composition, love for his characters and a deep regard for the power of silence to tell a story --San Francisco Chronicle
Bears all the hallmarks of Ray's best work: gracefulness, exquisite pacing and composition, love for his characters and a deep regard for the power of silence to tell a story --San Francisco Chronicle
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Satyajit Ray shows an inner struggle between traditional and modern values in Indian life,urban and rural.Devi(The Goddess 1960) explores the dangers of religious fanaticism and superstition.We see Kali,the Hindu deity,whose statue is adorned and carried in a religious festival,fireworks and her being cast adrift from the river bank.Uma(Chatterji) will resume his university studies in Calcutta leaving his shy,beautiful wife Doya(Tagore)apprehensive about the prolonged separation.He asks her to write daily,declaring his studies useful for a better job,and the ennoblement of knowledge.This is mid-19th century Bengal.
Doya dotes on her nephew Kohka and attends to the needs of her wealthy father-in-law Roy(Biswas),who calls her "mother" as a term of endearment.Roy has a dream that Doya is the reincarnation of goddess Kali.She,fearful of displeasing her father-in-law's delusion, is manipulated and transformed into the image of Kali.Roy's revelation is disseminated throughout the village,the gullible Doya accepts the worship of the people around her as they pay homage or seek assistance from the goddess.When a young boy is seemingly healed,devotion turns to fanaticism,as the destructive power of ignorance takes hold in the absence of rational thought.
Her husband returning is shocked and tries to free her through persuasion and reason,but she has begun to believe, losing all sense of her own individuality.She becomes a victim of a quarrel that develops between her husband and father-in-law. The repeated imagery of window bars, darkness and shadows, and veils and curtains reflect the pervasive sense of confinement, oppression, and unenlightenment within the household.We see the fragility of spirituality in a decadent,selfish,indulgent society.She becomes imprisoned and at the mercy of the people when things go wrong.
Doya dotes on her nephew Kohka and attends to the needs of her wealthy father-in-law Roy(Biswas),who calls her "mother" as a term of endearment.Roy has a dream that Doya is the reincarnation of goddess Kali.She,fearful of displeasing her father-in-law's delusion, is manipulated and transformed into the image of Kali.Roy's revelation is disseminated throughout the village,the gullible Doya accepts the worship of the people around her as they pay homage or seek assistance from the goddess.When a young boy is seemingly healed,devotion turns to fanaticism,as the destructive power of ignorance takes hold in the absence of rational thought.
Her husband returning is shocked and tries to free her through persuasion and reason,but she has begun to believe, losing all sense of her own individuality.She becomes a victim of a quarrel that develops between her husband and father-in-law. The repeated imagery of window bars, darkness and shadows, and veils and curtains reflect the pervasive sense of confinement, oppression, and unenlightenment within the household.We see the fragility of spirituality in a decadent,selfish,indulgent society.She becomes imprisoned and at the mercy of the people when things go wrong.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Devi (The Goddess) is a film set in India over a century ago that explores tradition, religious beliefs, and assuming the role of a god. A young woman named Dayamoyee leads a simple life as the wife of Umaprasad who is finishing his studies to be a position to become even wealthier. She cares for her father-in-law, Kalikinkar Roy, who adores her for helping him every time he calls her. Because Dayamoyee is so caring and Kalikinkar no longer has a wife, he callers her mother. Kalikinkar is deeply religious and prays to the Hindu goddess, mother Kali, but one day dreams both mothers are the same. He believes Dayamoyee is an incarnation of the goddess Kali.
At first Dayamoyee is hesitant because she is torn between her old life and her potential new one. She is transformed from a position of servitude to one of power. But the new role is not without its difficulties. She enjoys the attention but is now treated as someone who is untouchable and all-powerful. Life as a goddess is not at all easy as it is a burden as well.
As all this happened when Umaprasad was away at school, when he returns he is quite horrified. He symbolizes the new generation, which has different beliefs. To him, the line between religion and superstition has been crossed. Umaprasad tries to reason with her and his father but doesn't have an easy time. In effect we have conflict with the new generation with the old generation (or the son and the father) over religious traditions.
Those less familiar with India may find this movie to be especially exotic because it portrays a vibrant culture and different way of life. The interesting story is made spellbinding by the captivating music. If you enjoy world cinema Devi is worth checking out.
At first Dayamoyee is hesitant because she is torn between her old life and her potential new one. She is transformed from a position of servitude to one of power. But the new role is not without its difficulties. She enjoys the attention but is now treated as someone who is untouchable and all-powerful. Life as a goddess is not at all easy as it is a burden as well.
As all this happened when Umaprasad was away at school, when he returns he is quite horrified. He symbolizes the new generation, which has different beliefs. To him, the line between religion and superstition has been crossed. Umaprasad tries to reason with her and his father but doesn't have an easy time. In effect we have conflict with the new generation with the old generation (or the son and the father) over religious traditions.
Those less familiar with India may find this movie to be especially exotic because it portrays a vibrant culture and different way of life. The interesting story is made spellbinding by the captivating music. If you enjoy world cinema Devi is worth checking out.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
I'm not even going to bother talking about the film, it's Satyajit Ray and therefore worth buying.
I own all of Mr Bongo's Ray releases and all are very good quality. You should keep in mind, however, that most of Ray's films have been very poorly kept and so finding good prints is extremely difficult. Also, even original prints were not in the best condition when the films were released due to budget issues. But still, I have compared the Mr Bongo releases with Indian releases and I can tell you that Mr Bongo's are many, many time better - and about as good as your likly to ever find.
I own all of Mr Bongo's Ray releases and all are very good quality. You should keep in mind, however, that most of Ray's films have been very poorly kept and so finding good prints is extremely difficult. Also, even original prints were not in the best condition when the films were released due to budget issues. But still, I have compared the Mr Bongo releases with Indian releases and I can tell you that Mr Bongo's are many, many time better - and about as good as your likly to ever find.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Goddess of Life, eh?
A strange film about a wife who appears to heal a dying child, by co-incidence and thinks she is culturally cursed for being able to do so, having to keep up family appearances as... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Fred K
Family strife
A pure gem from Satyajit Ray about a young Bengali girl who is driven betel-nuts when her father-in-law worships her as a goddess. A really beautiful and moving film.
Published 22 months ago by Chris
My favourite Ray film
simply a masterpiece
about weaknesses and strength
and the abuse of power in the family structure
Chapeau!
about weaknesses and strength
and the abuse of power in the family structure
Chapeau!
Published on 9 April 2010 by Ruth D. Turner
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