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Somnath Bannerjee (Pradip Mukherjee), a member of the elite Brahmin caste, fails his history exam because the man hired to grade them can't read his small handwriting. Somnath searches for a job for over a year. When he finally does get an interview, the big question is "What is the weight of the moon?" He tries to argue that this has nothing to do the job, but is dismissed. He ends up as a "middleman" buying paper products and reselling them at higher prices. His father is deeply dismayed because family members traditionally don't engage in sales. One by one, Somnath is taught the harsh lessons of doing business in a setting where nothing matters but closing the deal. Ultimately, he stoops to blackmail, with the sister of his best friend as bait.
Based on the novel Jana Aranya by Mani Shankar Mukherjee, Ray wrote the screenplay and the music as well as directing the feature. --Luanne Brown
| CATEGORY: | Video |
| DIRECTOR: | Satyajit Ray |
| THEATRICAL RELEASE DATE: | March, 1979 |
| MANUFACTURER: | Sony Pictures |
| MPAA RATING: | NR (Not Rated) |
| FEATURES: | Color, Subtitled, NTSC |
| TYPE: | Foreign Film - Indian, Foreign Film [Dub Or Subtitle], Movie |
| MEDIA: | VHS Tape |
| # OF MEDIA: | 1 |
| UPC: | 043396240230 |
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Customer Reviews of The Middleman
The Beginning is the BEST part I continue with the viewer comments that the amazon girl is an imbecile. First of all, the main character doesn't fail the exam, which is important. He passes. And passing means nothing. Because everybody passes because cheating was being encouraged at the time. It is this strange sort of comedy that's only a little bit funny. The first scene is sort of surreal and beautiful. All the actors in the film are so good and so beautiful, too. Strangely, the fashions and the hari-styles seem of 1970's India are so very similar to the styles in New York today. The fashion in the movie is nice. The writing on the walls, the strange half-drawn picture of Indira Gandhi welcoming in the new year 1977. This IS a situated piece, which makes it perhaps all the more reason that it is not just for die-hard Ray fans, but for people who may not care for detached art but want to see some commentary on the world and times expressed artistically. Maybe it's preachy. But not really. More in that Catch 22 sort of way. Comedy that's unnerving to laugh at. Pathetic satire. The characters are unforgettable, particularly... (okay the names might be), the guy that gets Somnath into pimping, and the father, and the friend's sister. The ending is something amazing. The music is great, too. I don't read Bengali. But script and writing is important, from all the writing on the wall, to Somnath's small handwriting (which is in English) and even the way the titles come on the screen in the beginning. It's a very beautiful script that becomes a character or characteristic in the film.
The Editorial Review is wrong and misleading
I would urge Luanne to see this film again and this time paying attention will definitely help. This is a very tough film with a big city backdrop and like all other Ray films there is no agenda as such... this film is a beautiful and moving portrayal of the hard truths of being a young man in 70's Calcutta, with ideals that are often conflicting but somehow forces one to go on and make a living.
It is beautifully filmed with a telling narative with typical subtlety known only from Satyajit Ray. It is about being compassionate, about the loss of innocence and the conflict between idealism and corruption. The quiet urgency and emotional intensity of the film transcend its context. It is not only a film about India. Just like other Ray masterpieces, it is quite universal.
A FASCINATING LOOK AT INDIA
I was initially dissuaded from purchasing this video because the only review that I had to go by, was the critic's review. The movie is not, as he states "for die-hard Ray fans only" but rather, for anyone who appreciates a good, well-made film. While it is true that the subject matter deals with corruption, and yes, this is not a Disney film and not for everyone, it is really a shame not to see it. Ray uses some wonderful cinematographic techniques, such as focusing in on the father's face for an extended period of time, to convey an emotion, to bring us this character's feelings without stating them outright. The soundtrack, as in all of Ray's other films, is wonderfully evocative of the scenes which he is presenting. The movie is well-made, and will keep your interest. You must see it!