The Namesake (2006)

Synopsis: Aschoke Ganguli (Irfan Khan) came to America to the land of opportunity. He brought with him, his arranged marraged wife, Ashima. After a long period of getting used to things, Ashima and Aschoke has a son, Gogol (Kal Penn) , after a famous crazy Russian author and a daughter, Sonia. The family grows up in suburbia New York with the kids constantly fighting with their mother about the balance between assimilating into American culture and hanging on to their Indian roots. Ashima's story eventually becomes Gogol's story as he enters the working class and becomes a married man, himself. And no matter how hard he tries, he just can't shake the baggage that comes attached to his name. Gogol goes on a journey to find acceptance and inner peace while learning much more about where his name came from and the meaning it has for him and his family.

Should You Watch It? This film starts out super slow and it is obvious that the writer, Sooni Taraporevala tried to take as much out of the book as she could. As a result, in the first twenty minutes or so, the film doesn't really go anywhere and it's not until Aschoke and Ashima have Gogol does the story pick up. But after that, it's all downhill and the story rolls along beautifully, touching on all the challenges and obstacles an immigrant family goes through when dealing with assimilation and trying to get their kids to hang on to tradition.

Things to Watch Out For: This film isn't a romance story. It might seem like that by the way it's advertised with Kal Penn dating a white chick, Maxine Jacinda Barrett but his mother doesn't want him dating anyone who's not Indian and the film is about them accepting each other's cultures and shit. Well, this movie is not that. That, in fact, is a very small part of this film as it focuses more on the inner family dynamic and Gogol's acceptance of his Indian roots and his, well, Russian namsake.

Things You Don't Expect: Any film that deals with tradition and culture mixed in with family and stuff it's always going to be emotional and that should be expected. But what was really interesting is that this movie, which features many known actors, really focuses on Ashima's story and her arc as she goes from a plain ol' Indian girl to a house wife in suburban America. And of course our good friend Kal Penn plays a serious role. Not saying his role as Kumar in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle was not serious but you know what I mean. And damn! Jacinda Barrett is hot! I didnt' think she was that hot in Last Kiss but I guess I just wasn't paying attention.

Final Comments:
Story: 8.2 (Jhumpa Lahiri: novel, Sooni Taraporevala: screen play)
Direction: 6.8 (Mira Nair)
Acting: 7.5
Cinematography: 7.5
Music/Sound: 7.6

Entertainment Value: 7.8 (not an average)