Film Notes on Calcutta

Calcutta (1969) directed by Louis Malle

Viewed on July 10, 2019

Commentary

The film looks at the diverse society of Calcutta, ranging from its religious rituals to its sporting events. It alternates between scenes of abject poverty and scenes of the wealthy. Its first 18 minutes or so has no narration, and I found myself longing for some voiceover because there did not seem to be a strong point of view. Even when narration entered, the film felt impersonal. While it is better than a mere travelogue, it lacks the personal connections developed in other personal journeys I have seen recently: Chris Marker's Sunday in Peking and Wim Wender's Tokyo-Ga. But perhaps the comparison is unfair.