The Flute and the Arrow

The Flute and the Arrow

1957 · 85 min · ★ 6.9 · Drama, Documentary, Adventure

Arne Sucksdorff’s ethnographic feature documents the life and rituals of the Muria people in the Bastar jungle of central India, focusing on their traditions, music, and relationship to the natural environment. Presented with Sucksdorff’s lyrical visual style, the film was selected for the 1958 Cannes Film Festival.

Directed by Arne Sucksdorff · Written by Arne Sucksdorff

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Streaming

Netflix

Cast

Make it a double feature

2h 59m together

The Flute and the Arrow

The Great Adventure

Both from Arne Sucksdorff.

More from Arne SucksdorffSee all →

Shadow of the HunterShadow of the Hunter · 1944
Shadow of the Hunter
★ 9.01944
MovieDocumentary
Gryning is a short Swedish film by Arne Sucksdorff, presented without narration or dialogue. It follows a hunter tracking animals through the forest at daybreak, but as the dawn light transforms the landscape, he lowers his rifle, overcome by the beauty of the morning, and walks away. The film is also known by the English titles The Shadow of the Hunter and Dawn.
The GullsThe Gulls · 1944
The Gulls
★ 7.51944
MovieDocumentary
Arne Sucksdorff’s short documentary observes gulls raiding nests and stealing eggs with ruthless persistence. Though presented as pure nature study, the film was widely read as an allegory of Nazism—a symbolic parable of predation and violence during wartime. Sucksdorff himself denied such intent, but remarked that “a film that is not open to interpretation is a dead film.”
The Great AdventureThe Great Adventure · 1953
The Great Adventure
★ 7.01953
MovieAdventureFamily
Arne Sucksdorff’s celebrated nature film follows two brothers in rural Sweden as they witness a fox raid and secretly raise an orphaned otter. Told through an adult’s memories, it reflects on childhood, nature, and the fragile balance between wilderness and civilization. The film won the International Prize at the 1954 Cannes Film Festival.
The Boy in the TreeThe Boy in the Tree · 1961
The Boy in the Tree
★ 6.91961
MovieDrama
Göte is a young teen who seems to be at odds with his family and may not know his own mind that well either. Discontented and rebellious, Göte joins up with two mean-spirited game poachers in spite of the fact that he loves animals and nature. This contradiction between his own feelings and his need to rebel reaches a climax when a forest ranger starts to track down the young men in ever-tightening circles.
Symphony of a CitySymphony of a City · 1947
Symphony of a City
★ 6.91947
MovieDocumentary
An impressionistic short film celebrating Stockholm’s rhythms of life, blending images of its streets, waterways, people, and architecture into a visual “symphony.” Winner of the Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Short Subject, One-Reel in 1949 — the first Swedish film ever to receive an Oscar.
A Divided WorldA Divided World · 1948
A Divided World
★ 6.91948
MovieDocumentary
A ten-minute study of wild animal life in a Swedish forest; stoat, fox, hare, and owl, who stalk and savage one another, are photographed with extraordinary vividness and intimacy. It is perhaps the most striking of Sucksdorff's animal studies, in spite of an abrupt introduction and ending.
My Home Is CopacabanaMy Home Is Copacabana · 1965
My Home Is Copacabana
★ 6.81965
MovieAdventureDrama
Arne Sucksdorff’s drama follows four homeless children—Jorginho, Rico, Lici, and Paulinho—struggling to survive in the Rio de Janeiro slums. They shine shoes, scavenge food, and pickpocket while dreaming of escape from the streets. When Rico, once escaped from a brutal institution in Caxambu, falls ill, he chooses to return there rather than die outside. A somber portrait of poverty and resilience, the film was selected for the 1965 Cannes Film Festival.
An August RhapsodyAn August Rhapsody · 1940
An August Rhapsody
★ 6.81940
MovieDocumentary
Arne Sucksdorff’s debut—made when he was 23— is a lyrical short about Sweden’s late-summer crayfish fishery: night-time trapping on water, daybreak on the shore, and the rhythms of August nature rendered in carefully composed images. Often grouped with This Land Is Full of Life as one of Sucksdorff’s “hymns to the Swedish summer,” the film distills a 24-hour cycle into a seven-minute nature rhapsody.
Summer's TaleSummer's Tale · 1941
Summer's Tale
★ 6.61941
MovieDocumentary
Arne Sucksdorff’s first film for Svensk Filmindustri, this lyrical short follows a fox cub through his playful explorations and predatory instincts in the Swedish forest. Blending moments of enchantment with unsentimental depictions of cruelty, the film captures the cycle of survival among animals with striking rhythmic editing and sensuous close-ups of fur, eyes, and forest textures. Rich in light and detail, Summer’s Tale became an enormously popular nature film and established Sucksdorff’s reputation for poetic documentary.
The Wind from the WestThe Wind from the West · 1942
The Wind from the West
★ 6.51942
MovieDocumentary
A short drama documentary about the life of a Sami family in the northernmost part of Sweden, Lappland.
June NightJune Night · 1940
June Night
★ 6.21940
MovieDrama
A woman flees to avoid rumors of promiscuity, but is trailed by a reporter who wants to expose her dark past.
ShoreShore · 1950
Shore
★ 6.01950
MovieDrama
A documentary about the fishing industry on the west coast of Sweden.
On the Far Side of the EarthOn the Far Side of the Earth · 1972
On the Far Side of the Earth
★ 6.01972
MovieDocumentary
This four-episode Swedish documentary series by Arne Sucksdorff draws on footage shot over four years in Brazil—especially in the Pantanal wetlands—and is narrated from Sucksdorff’s personal diary. It combines images of plants, animals, landscapes, and daily camp life with moments of tension (e.g. threats to wildlife) and reflection on humanity’s relationship with nature.
Shadows on the SnowShadows on the Snow · 1946
Shadows on the Snow
★ 6.01946
MovieDocumentary
A nature documentary about the predators in the Swedish winter mountains: the owl, the bear and man.
The Wind and the RiverThe Wind and the River · 1953
The Wind and the River
★ 6.01953
MovieDocumentary
A lyrical short documentary by Arne Sucksdorff about life along the Jhelum River in Kashmir. Through images of the people who live and work on its banks, the film captures the interplay between daily labor, the landscape, and the rhythms of the river itself.
Indian VillageIndian Village · 1951
Indian Village
★ 5.81951
MovieDocumentary
A short documentary by Swedish filmmaker Arne Sucksdorff portraying everyday life in a rural Indian village. Through carefully composed images of people, landscapes, and communal rhythms, the film offers an intimate view of village life. It was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 1952 Cannes Film Festival.

More Like This

Couldn't load this row right now.

More on NetflixSee all →

Animals
NEW
Animals · 2026
Animals
★ 7.02026
MovieThrillerDrama
When the son of an L.A. mayoral candidate is kidnapped, he and his wife have a few hours to come up with the ransom payment. With most of their money spent on his political campaign, they have to get their hands dirty and expose a side of their lives they never intended to see the light of day.
The BreadwinnerThe Breadwinner · 2026
The Breadwinner
★ 7.12026
MovieComedyFamily
After his wife Katie lands a once-in-a-lifetime deal on Shark Tank that takes her on a prolonged business trip - lifelong breadwinner Nate Wilcox now has to fend for his family as a first-time stay-at-home dad.
Reporting Live
NEW
Reporting Live · 2026
Reporting Live
★ 7.02026
MovieCrimeThriller
A young reporter and her reluctant cameraman chase a story, only to get entangled in an illegal sand-mining racket run by a ruthless syndicate.
Spider-Man: No Way HomeSpider-Man: No Way Home · 2021
Spider-Man: No Way Home
★ 7.92021
MovieActionAdventure
Peter Parker is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a super-hero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.
The GodfatherThe Godfather · 1972
The Godfather
★ 8.71972
MovieDramaCrime
Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be killers, launching a campaign of bloody revenge.
The Wild RobotThe Wild Robot · 2024
The Wild Robot
★ 8.32024
MovieFamilyAnimation
After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island's animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity CastleDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle · 2025
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
★ 8.82025
MovieAnimationAction
The Demon Slayer Corps are drawn into the Infinity Castle, where Tanjiro, Nezuko, and the Hashira face terrifying Upper Rank demons in a desperate fight as the final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji begins.
Howl's Moving CastleHowl's Moving Castle · 2004
Howl's Moving Castle
★ 8.42004
MovieFantasyAnimation
Sophie, a young milliner, is turned into an elderly woman by a witch who enters her shop and curses her. She encounters a wizard named Howl and gets caught up in his resistance to fighting for the king.
SwappedSwapped · 2026
Swapped
★ 8.82026
MovieAdventureAnimation
A small woodland creature and a majestic bird, two natural sworn enemies of the Valley, magically trade places and set off on an adventure of a lifetime to switch back. Their journey soon uncovers a greater threat—one that could endanger not only their species, but the entire valley they call home.
Spirited AwaySpirited Away · 2001
Spirited Away
★ 8.52001
MovieAnimationFamily
A young girl, Chihiro, becomes trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free her family.
HostelHostel · 2006
Hostel
★ 6.02006
MovieHorror
Three backpackers head to a Slovakian city that promises to meet their hedonistic expectations, with no idea of the hell that awaits them.
Once Upon a Time... in HollywoodOnce Upon a Time... in Hollywood · 2019
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
★ 7.42019
MovieComedyDrama
Los Angeles, 1969. TV star Rick Dalton, a struggling actor specializing in westerns, and stuntman Cliff Booth, his best friend, try to survive in a constantly changing movie industry. Dalton is the neighbor of the young and promising actress and model Sharon Tate, who has just married the prestigious Polish director Roman Polanski…
Puss in BootsPuss in Boots · 2011
Puss in Boots
★ 6.62011
MovieActionAdventure
Long before he even met Shrek, the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss in Boots becomes a hero when he sets off on an adventure with the tough and street smart Kitty Softpaws and the mastermind Humpty Dumpty to save his town. This is the true story of The Cat, The Myth, The Legend... The Boots.
Fight ClubFight Club · 1999
Fight Club
★ 8.41999
MovieDramaThriller
A ticking-time-bomb insomniac and a slippery soap salesman channel primal male aggression into a shocking new form of therapy. Their concept catches on, with underground "fight clubs" forming in every town, until an eccentric gets in the way and ignites an out-of-control spiral toward oblivion.
Evil Dead BurnEvil Dead Burn · 2026
Evil Dead Burn
★ 7.62026
MovieHorror
After her husband's abrupt death, Alice seeks solace with his remaining family — descendants of a leading researcher on demonic possession. As her in-laws transform one by one into creatures that feed on fear, she comes to discover that the vows she took in life survive even in death.
KPop Demon HuntersKPop Demon Hunters · 2025
KPop Demon Hunters
★ 8.02025
MovieFantasyMusic
When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey aren't selling out stadiums, they're using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats.
The Storm
NEW
The Storm · 2026
The Storm
★ 6.42026
MovieComedyDrama
When a storm traps old university pals at a luxury lodge, their civilized birthday bash spirals into a cyclone of betrayals, grudges and unfiltered chaos.
ShrekShrek · 2001
Shrek
★ 7.82001
MovieAnimationComedy
It ain't easy bein' green -- especially if you're a likable (albeit smelly) ogre named Shrek. On a mission to retrieve a gorgeous princess from the clutches of a fire-breathing dragon, Shrek teams up with an unlikely compatriot -- a wisecracking donkey.
Facing El ChapoFacing El Chapo · 2026
Facing El Chapo
★ 8.82026
MovieCrimeAction
Two Mexican officers must survive the final hours of their shift after crossing a ruthless cartel boss.
Therapy Done Right
NEW
Therapy Done Right · 2026
Therapy Done Right
★ 7.72026
MovieComedyDrama
A psychoanalyst who's lost faith in traditional therapy crosses every boundary to help a blocked novelist in this cutting Argentine dark comedy.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter