Wes Anderson Admits He ‘Stole’ Iconic Scene from Satyajit Ray’s Aranyer Din Ratri for Asteroid City

May 27, 2025: At the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, acclaimed American filmmaker Wes Anderson opened up about his deep admiration for legendary Indian director Satyajit Ray, revealing that a pivotal scene in his 2023 film Asteroid City was directly inspired by Ray’s Aranyer Din Ratri (1971).

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, Anderson candidly confessed to “stealing” the iconic memory game sequence from Ray’s film, which he helped restore and present at Cannes this year.

“Yes, well, stole it,” Anderson said with a smile. “The way that scene was done… it’s the most beautifully… first of all, that concept is very odd because it’s a game. But we learn about these characters so much while they play these games, and they’re saying these things.”

Anderson praised the emotional weight and visual style of the original scene, adding,

“The way it’s photographed is very striking… there’s more emotion in this scene than you would think there’s any reason to be. My family and I began to play this game after I saw the movie.”

Ray’s Legacy and the Scene in Focus

The referenced moment in Aranyer Din Ratri features characters sitting in a circle, playing a memory game as the camera subtly pans across their faces, revealing emotional nuances through minimal dialogue and quiet tension. The film stars Soumitra Chatterjee, Sharmila Tagore, Subhendu Chatterjee, Rabi Ghosh, and Pahari Sanyal, and is widely hailed as one of Ray’s masterpieces.

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In Asteroid City, Anderson mirrors the scene with a star-studded cast including Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Tilda Swinton, Jeffrey Wright, Edward Norton, and others. The recreated moment blends Anderson’s signature visual symmetry with Ray’s understated character depth.

Aranyer Din Ratri earned a standing ovation at Cannes following its restored screening, reaffirming Satyajit Ray’s enduring global influence.

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