Overview

• At Cannes, Anderson acknowledged he “stole” the memory game circle scene from Ray’s 1971 film for his 2023 release Asteroid City.
• The memory game sequence uses close-ups and camera pans to reveal character depths, a technique Anderson replicated in Asteroid City.
• As a member of The Film Foundation, Anderson spearheaded the restoration of Aranyer Din Ratri in 2019 alongside Film Heritage Foundation, Janus Films and The Criterion Collection.
• The fully restored Aranyer Din Ratri screened in Cannes Classics and received a standing ovation with original stars Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal in attendance.
• Anderson credits Ray’s unique visual storytelling for inspiring his family to play the memory game and shaping his own cinematic approach.