The Coward (1965)

 Satyajit Ray's "The Coward"


Based on the short story "Janaiko Kapuruser Kahini" by Premendra Mitra, Satyajit Ray's 1965 film "The Coward" proves equally short. Clocking in at only 1 hour and 9 minutes, it makes for one of Ray's shortest features. Although it did not go on to aspire acclaim, it remains a vital film in the renowned Indian director's filmography.

The film centers on a young screenwriter named Amitabha whose car breaks down in the countryside. A local tea planter, Bimal Gupta, offers his home to Amitabha as a place to stay for night. When Amitabha arrives at Gupta's home, he discovers he is married to Karuna, a girl he once loved back in his days as a student. Amitabha spends the rest of his visit attempting to reconcile with her, even encouraging her to leave with him.

Similarly to the film of Jean-Luc Godard (minus all the New Wave tricks), Ray seems to suggest with "The Coward" that real life is no film. Our protagonist is a script writer and his coincidental run-in with his former romantic interest (whom he let down) sparks the idea that he could reconcile things and sweep her off her feet once again and take her away from her rich husband. His ideas seem straight out of a fictional story. However, he comes to find that happy endings aren't conducive to reality. 



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