When a stranger claiming to be your long lost uncle suddenly announces that he’ll be visiting you, there’s an immediate mystery there: is this man really who he claims he is? The Stranger is centered on that idea, but the way Satyajit Ray expands on his short story transforms this domestic drama into a witty and contemplative dialectic about civil society, Western versus Indian thinking, our ideas of home, and trust in a world that’s forgotten how to do so. Agantuk may not be Ray at his finest, but it’s a great film to end his career on, with a memorable character that encapsulates Ray’s philosophy.
Synopsis
A well-off Indian family is paid an unexpected, and rather unwanted, visit by a man claiming to be the woman's long lost uncle. The initial suspicion with which they greet the man slowly dissolves as he regales them with stories of his travels, tales that are at odds with their conventional middle class perspective on the world.
Storyline
Having heard of his travels from occasional postcards for 35 years, Anila and her well-off family did not expect her uncle Manomohan Mitra to send them a letter announcing his visit. Because of this, the family suspects an impostor, at least until he regales them with stories of his travels.
TLDR
Oh, to be as cool as this guy...
What stands out
Satyajit Ray’s script might still work with another actor, but the charisma and presence Utpal Dutt has makes him a perfect fit for a unique, well-travelled character.
