Mississippi Masala - Movie Review Example

Mississippi Masala Assignment 16th May 2008 Inter-racial conflicts and resolutions in 'Mississippi Masala' In the southern United States as in much of the rest of the world, the differentraces remain largely segregated, with limited socioeconomic interaction. Each race has adistinctive ethnic profile, it own social, cultural and economic characteristics and its ownculture, values, beliefs and expectations.Conflicts between the races arise mainly due to ignorance, prejudice andstereotyping which leads to negative ideas and attitudes arising among the groups whenrelating to each other.

Economic pressures and increasing competition for limitednumbers of jobs, housing and schools have forced the races into conflict.Added to economic pressures are social conflicts arising from differences inreligion, traditional values and a history of oppression of one race by another in differentsituations. The fear of the unknown and unfamiliar leads to avoidance, hostility, overtviolence and a desire to destroy whatever is different from oneself.The film 'Mississippi Masala' explores the serious theme of interracial conflictand possible resolutions to these conflicts.

In spite of the topic, it is a spicy, romantic,passionate, irreverent, funny and upbeat film which avoids racial stereotyping and depictsits characters as natural and human. The film has a liberal viewpoint in that it shows Demetrius, the Black American Name 2hero and Mina, the Asian heroine in a positive relationship with believable underpinnings.Mina grew up in Africa, so she is used to Black people. They both live and work in Mississippi, in the motel business, in different capacities. They are both young, attractive, sexy, free-spirited and independent-minded adults who are not afraid to reach out to each other, in spite of opposition from the more traditional members of their communities.

They meet, discover shared interests and fall in love. The film contrasts traditional and modern views by juxtaposing Black rappers and Asian rituals, elaborate Asian weddings and Mina dancing in a night club, Mina and Demetrius having lunch with his family and the mixed responses their relationship evokes among the different races involved. Conflicts arise from ugly prejudices within both families, long-standing grudges as in the case of Jay, Mina's father who has not forgiven the Africans for driving him out of Uganda and a refusal to show tolerance to the lovers as in the case of the White teenagers and police who harass the couple in a motel.

Mina and Demetrius eventually resolve their unique situation by leaving to start a new life of their own, minus those who will not accept them. In my own personal experience of racial conflict, I feel it does exist, more so among conservative members of the races. The more liberal among these people may find ways to resolve their differences and progress towards common goals. There are always resolutions to conflicts, if people are prepared to find them. I feel it is possible for members of different races to marry, have children and work together in harmony.

Works Cited "Mississippi Masala barely scratches the surface of racial conflict." tech.mit.edu The Tech Online Edition Vol 112 Issue 5 16 May 2008 .