One of Ray’s most uncompromising works was this unflinching short, told with stark visuals and the power of a parable. When a weakened Untouchable laborer falls while chopping wood, his death forces a landowner to deal with the ritual and emotional consequences, illuminating the complex burden of the caste system in vivid fashion. Print courtesy of the Satyajit Ray Film and Study Collection at the Academy Film Archive.

Screening with

Pikoo’s Diary
Satyajit Ray, 1980, India; 26m
A boy’s day spent sketching at home is filled with revelations about the mysterious goings-on among the adults in his household. Featuring Aparna Sen as the mother. Print courtesy of the Satyajit Ray Film and Study Collection at the Academy Film Archive.

The Inner Eye
Satyajit Ray, 1972, India; 19m
A portrait of the painter Binode Bihari Mukherjee, who was stricken with blindness at the height of his powers. Print courtesy of the Satyajit Ray Film and Study Collection at the Academy Film Archive.