This film and the Trilogy it began did for the Indian industry what Rashomon (1951) had done for the Japanese gave it international recognition and established Ray as an important director in world cinema. Ray's love for the styles of Jean Renoir and the Italian Neo-Realists is readily apparent in the reality he brings to this film, it is a fascinating glimpse into Indian village life beautifully photographed particularly considering the problems he encountered in making the film which were mainly financial ones. Some really vivid scenes which reveal a great deal about the joy of childhood and the isolation of village life, one where Apu and his sister rush to glimpse the arrival of a train is so appropriate. The most memorable character though is the most grizzled old lady you'll ever see played by 80 year old veteran Chunibala.
  

The Apu Trilogy continued with Aparajito (The Unvanquished) (1956) and Apur Sansur (The World of Apu) (1959) these detail the young hero's journey into adulthood.

Not to have seen the cinema of Ray means existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon. Akira Kurosawa

DVD available as part of the Apu Trilogy boxset in R2 :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/