Subtly Rendered Sexual Tension

This film is fascinating in many ways, but I think the most interesting aspect of all is the subtle yet powerful sense of sexual tension infusing the second half of the work. Given the times and mores Ray portrays, the mix of almost childish curiousity and very adult carnal and spiritual desires really add a complex human texture to story.
In short, I feel the rich understatement--the delicate suggestiveness--does much to heighten the sense of longing and urgency in ways that many modern "love stories" would do well to emulate. This, of course, presupposes that such works could manage to rise above the lowest common denominator formulas of flesh and frequent copulation that seem to sell tickets even with the thinnest of stories in tow.