Pather Pancali (1955)/Aparajito (1956)/The World of Apu (1959)

Though three separate films, as an entity these incorporate the Apu Trilogy, following the life of the title character from his birth in a rural Indian village to adulthood when he has a son himself. The one that most resonates for me is the third, focusing on the struggles of adulthood, but it is stronger because of the films and history that came before. As a whole they present a realistic and beautifully presented rendering of the experience of a young man growing up in India. The one reliable experience through it all is death and loss.