Two worlds, too many dimensions

Rinz Loranz

(New wave film school second batch student)

'Two' is a 1964 short film directed by Satyajit Ray, which is considered as one of his remarkable works.

The Film shows an encounter between a rich kid and a poor kid with their toys. The rivalry is developing among them. The rich kid is continuously dominating over the poor kid using his wealthy toys.

The movie reflects the exact picture of social domination and oppression existing in our society. The topic was tried by many directors in different ways, but Satyajit Ray emerged successful by abstracting it in a short film with a very minimal plot. While establishing the character of the rich kid, the absence of happiness in the middle of wealth is also clearly established. He was roaming around his wealthy toys with no interest at all. He was blasting the balloons with matchsticks, which shows his boredom. The music of the poor kid's flute actually gives him hope to engage in something and to gain happiness from it. Meanwhile establishing the character of the poor kid, the presence of happiness in the middle of poverty is also clearly established. The way he engages in while playing the flute and the pleasing music from his flute conveys it. While the rivalry is building up, the rich kid is getting a chance to use his wealth over the poor kid and he is trying to gain happiness from it. The poor kid who forced to be a part of the encounter fights not to fail because a failure can spoil his happiness. There is a symbolic representation of oppressions over the poor by the rich. The rich will only remain as rich when there is a poor, so he always tries to oppress the poor. The scene where the rich kid comes in different costumes shows the extremity of oppressions and its terrible face in different areas of society. The climax where rich kid shoots the kite of a poor kid can be considered as a metaphor of extreme level oppression over freedom, growth and happiness.

The entire story is told through the window of the rich kid. The perspective forces us to look back on ourselves and criticize our activities. These may be our shades on which we are ashamed of looking at or where we consciously shut our eyes. The movie is a gentle reminder over it.