Christopher Nolan is a purist. Plain and simple. While there are tons of filmmakers that espouse the benefits of digital filmmaking, Nolan has been adamant about his love of actual film. He’s been at the forefront of the digital vs. film debate for years, and recently, the filmmaker was able to make a trip to India to talk more about preserving film and catch up on an Indian classic.
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During a three-day trip to India, Nolan met with people to talk about preserving a “celluloid, photo chemical, analog infrastructure in filmmaking.” But it was during this stay in India that the director was able to watch a classic Indian film by Satyajit Ray.
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“I have had the pleasure of watching Mr. Ray’s ‘Pather Panchali’ recently, which I hadn’t seen before. I think it is one of the best films ever made. It is an extraordinary piece of work. I am interested in learning more about Indian film industry and that is the reason why I came,” said Nolan, according to Indian outlet Deccan Chronicle.
“Pather Panchali” is the 1955 film written and directed by Ray. The story follows a young boy named Apu and his elder sister Durga, as they endure the harsh village life of their poor family. The film went on to receive numerous accolades, including numerous Western publications who named the film one of the best films ever made. It seems as if Nolan agrees with that assessment.
But again, Nolan wasn’t in India just to watch great films. He also wanted to talk about the importance of film. “Photochemical films are a very important cultural medium and it needs to have a place in the future of imaging,” Nolan continued. “Film is an wonderful analogy for how we perceive the world and our dreams. Film is a tool for exploring time and that has always influenced me. It is about the subconscious and the emotional reaction.”