Time magazine unveils list of best films of the past 100 years; Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali only Indian movie to make the cut

Pather Panchali was one of the first Indian films to receive international attention, and played a foundational role in the cultural movement that came to be known as parallel cinema. It was named the Best Feature Film at the 3rd National Film Awards. It competed for the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and Time magazine itself included it on a list of the 100 best movies of all time in 2005. Most recently, it was the only Indian film to find a place on Sight & Sound magazine’s revered list of the best films of all time, and was declared the best Indian film ever by International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI).

“So how did I choose these 100 films?” Time’s Zacharak asked herself in an article about her list. “I’ve spent more than 50 years choosing. These are movies that entwine craftsmanship and spirit. They often feature striking performances. For whatever reason, they touch me deeply,” she wrote.

Her list isn’t ranked, but is a chronological tabulation of films that she considers to be the best of all time. Classics such as Bicycle Thieves, Breathless, Gone with the Wind, Seven Samurai, Taxi Driver, The Godfather Part II all find a mention. The list also includes blockbuster movies such as ET the Extra-Terrestrial and The Empire Strikes Back, and two films by Wong Kar-wai — In the Mood for Love and Chungking Express. The most recent entries are Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Greta Gerwig’s Little Women.