20 Foreign Language Films You Must See Before You Die

17. The Apu Trilogy

Widely considered the greatest achievement in Indian cinema by critics around the world, Satyajit Ray's Apu Trilogy conceals its shoestring budget behind some of the most luscious compositions ever committed to celluloid, proving that big budget gloss isn't a prerequisite for sumptuous visuals.

Pather Panchali, Aparajito and Apur Sansar comprise the trilogy, telling the tale of Apurba Kumar Roy at the turn of the 20th century as he grows up in rural Bengal. Effortlessly gliding between moments of realism and elegant lyricism, this is earnest and touching filmmaking, capturing people loving and living in a time and a place which is perfectly realised. It remains to this day one of the greatest trilogies of all time - set aside a Sunday afternoon and allow Ray's mastery of atmosphere and his self-evident humanism to transport you far away from your living room.