Such a simple premise, but such a beautiful movie, and a glorious way for Satyajit Ray to end his illustrious career. Filmed in beautiful color, it touches on areas like philosophy, anthropology, religion, and science, but in ways that are light and engaging. It was made for me by the performance from Utpal Dutt, who plays the titular stranger with such presence, and imbued with worldly wisdom. It also features traditional musical performances, one with a tamboura and a native dance by the Kol people, which were quite a treat.
The story has a man who left home to travel the world long ago turning up in a family's life, and claiming to be the woman's uncle. She wants to believe him but since she was a baby when he left can't confirm it, and along with her cautious husband and vigilant friends, has doubts about his identity, particularly since an inheritance is involved. As they try to "peel the onion" on his life and who he is, he talks about his experiences in various cities around the world, and more significantly, his time with native peoples in India, as well as North and South America. The drama about his identity and whether he's cheating them seems to ebb into the background given the depth of what he's talking about and his intellectual honesty.
There were several fine scenes around that, one of which was the stranger talking to a group of kids about the incredible coincidence of the moon's diameter and distance from the earth being a nearly perfect proportion to the sun's, such that they appear the same size and 'fit' perfectly over one another during an eclipse. The way he talks about the mystery of this with the kids is natural and inspiring, and I also liked the other moments he had with the son in the family, passing not only his knowledge along, but also his wanderlust and desire to learn.
My favorite scene was when a family friend grills him in the attempt to expose him as a fraud, and we hear his views on weightier matters. As to religion, he says, "I happen to be a bit unorthodox in my views. I don't believe in something which creates barriers between people. Religion does that, particularly organized religion." He sees the miracles of life and is quite spiritual, but in a bittersweet, resigned way, says "The trouble is, it's extremely difficult to believe in a benevolent God these days. The daily papers alone make us question that belief." When pushed about the "savage" people he lived among, he points out the wisdom of native peoples, and in areas that aren't appreciated by 'advanced' cultures, e.g. Science, technology, medicine, architecture, and art. He says "Do you know the man who is really civilized?" It's the man who by using his thumb, presses a button which releases a weapon which obliterates an entire city with all its inhabitants."
These are some dark observations, but they aren't delivered in a gloomy, depressing way. They're balanced out by the man's humanity and the wisdom which comes from life experience and maturity. I felt it was Ray himself speaking here, in the grander scheme of things "no one," but a gifted, intelligent filmmaker, giving one last gift to the world.
