When The Criterion Collection put out Satyajit Ray’s “The Music Room” on Blu-ray/DVD a few years ago, there was immediate speculation among fans as to when they would get around to “The Apu Trilogy.” Sure, Satyajit Ray may have made twenty-eight films over the course of his career, but it’s his “Apu Trilogy” that’s widely considered to be his most seminal work. Well, it turns out Ray’s trilogy has recently undergone a very lengthy restoration process, and now Janus Films (Criterion Collection’s partner-in-crime) apparently have much bigger plans for “The Apu Trilogy” than just releasing them all on home video.
If you are one of the lucky peeps who lives in one of the cities listed below, you will get a chance to catch “Pather Panchali,” “Aparajito,” and “Apur Sansar” on the big screen this year. The trilogy will premiere at New York City’s Film Forum on May 8th and will make its way through cities such as Los Angeles, Houston, Boston, Seattle, and Minneapolis soon afterwards. If you’re a fan of Satyajit Ray, you may be thinking it’s about time, but once you read about how badly damaged the existing prints were, you will feel thankful that we’re getting this release at all.
READ MORE: 15 Thematic Trilogies From 15 Directors
As it says on the Janus Films website, this restoration “has been years in the making. The return of these films to theaters marks a triumph for the archivists and members of the preservation community who had the foresight and faith to protect these vital treasures of world cinema — even when all seemed lost.”
You can watch the trailer for “The Apu Trilogy” below (via The Film Stage), and while you’re at it, check out the trilogy’s page on janusfilms.com, which contains some pretty interesting details about the films and the restoration process. If you don’t live in any of the cities listed below, you can bet the Criterion Collection will be putting out the trilogy within the next year or so. Either way, you’re going to be able to see these films. Rejoice!
Opens May 8
New York, NY – Film Forum
Opens May 22
Philadelphia, PA – Landmark Ritz at the Bourse
Opens May 29
Los Angeles, CA – Landmark Nuart
San Diego, CA – Landmark Ken Cinema
Santa Fe, NM – Jean Cocteau Cinema
May 30–June 18
Baltimore, MD – The Charles
May 30–June 7
Houston, TX – The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
June 5–9
Vancouver, BC – The Cinematheque
Opens June 12
Berkeley, CA – Landmark Shattuck
San Francisco, CA – Landmark Opera Plaza
June 12–14
Detroit, MI – Detroit Institute of Arts
Opens June 26
Boston, MA – Landmark Kendall Square
Denver, CO – Landmark Chez Artiste
Washington, D.C. – Landmark E Street Cinema
Seattle, WA – SIFF Cinema
Opens July 10
Minneapolis, MN – Landmark Theatres
Omaha, NE – Film Streams
September 10–24
Columbus, OH – Wexner Center for the Arts
September 13–29
Amherst, MA – Amherst Cinema
