The World of Apu

Director: Satyajit Ray
Year Released: 1959
Rating: 2.0

I'm tossing the same complaints at this last part of the Apu trilogy as the second film: the contrivances don't seem properly built up to, and their effect feels merely gratuitous instead of earned. Apu literally wakes up from a nap while attending a wedding ceremony and is told the groom went insane and he has to be the new groom - at first he staunchly refuses (it is a mad proposition), but then, minutes later, impulsively changes his mind (this from a man incapable of being even remotely spontaneous in the first two films). Naturally, The Apu Curse is in effect, so his new wife dies shortly thereafter ... well, shortly after they go from being nervous around each other to falling in love. It's unfortunate that the trilogy goes downhill after such an admirable first part.