Analysis of the Namesake - Movie Review Example

I. Topic: Textual Analysis – The Movie sake” II. Major Characters: Kal Penn as Gogol Ganguli Irfan Khan as Ashoke Ganguli Tabu as Ashima GanguliJacinda Barrett as Maxine Ratliff Zuleikha Robinson as Moushumi Mazumdar III. Introduction and Brief Summary This Indian movie entitled, “Namesake,” presents a story of two cultures from across continents and the relationships of two generations of the 70s and 80s as it unfolds to capture the interest of its audience. Based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, the movie is a dramatic and emotional piece of Bengalese generations surviving in the cities of America. It is about finding home in another world where alienation, loneliness, and adaptation thrive to endure life-changing events. The movie opens the scenes featuring the suburbs of Calcutta where the Bengalese couple, Ashoke Ganguli and Ashima came from. It presents the difference of culture, customs, tribe and everyday way of living the Indian society possesses. It uses architecture to draw comparisons between New York and Calcutta. From there, one would derive an impression that this story is about to unfold the miseries of changing lives and how to live with it until the end. A young Bengali woman, Ashima, aspiring to be a classical singer, accepted the proposal of Ashoke Ganguli, a working professor abroad, by arrangement of their parents. The marriage soon started with the traditional Indian rites after which, the couple immediately left their families for New York where Ashoke works. In the new homeland, the couple soon begot a son Gogol named after the favorite author of Ashoke, Nicolai Gogol. With the pet name Gogol, soon changed to Nikhil, lived with the name along with her sister Sonia who grew up with the American way of life. The family then visited their homeland, India, when the children reached the late teens. Then went back there this time for the death of Ashoke, the very reason why the whole family permanently resides abroad. Later on, Gogol learned to face his cultural fears after his father’s death. With intense grief, maybe because of a cultural identity crisis, he resisted the help of his long-time girlfriend whose family accepted Gogol. However, the relationship ended-up because Gogol’s family didn’t seem to favor Maxine. Later, a second generation Bengali and childhood acquaintance who embraced the western culture, Moushimi met Gogol, and they got married. But the happiness did not last when a secret affair of Moushimi was disclosed and the two separated. In the end, Gogol’s mother, Ashima released herself from pain by accepting widowhood and learned the price of freedom. IV. Critique/Analysis on the Text With the title itself, “Namesake,” the story should have been all about Gogol’s life who tried to find out his true identity since his father gave him an odd name, which, for him, robs him some sense of belongingness with his New Yorker peers. But the movie commenced with the simple life and love story of his parents who met through arrangement. It’s not a usual courtship where the man woos the woman he loves until she falls in love in return. It’s a promise of love which turned out favorably because Ashoke Ganguli seemed to be a responsible and loving person. The conflict arose when Ashima had to leave her family behind and be with Ashoke in a country both foreign to them. They have to learn to adapt in a different culture and society where most of the Bengali tradition were nowhere to belong. The melting snow when Ashima woke up in her New York apartment was a sign of anticipated boredom. However, she was lucky enough to have decided to accept Ashoke’s proposal because the man was a loving and understanding husband. This was proven when Ashoke offered her wife tea and apologized for having been disappointed with the clothes she had sent to the laundry earlier of the day. Since new to American way of life, Ashoke faced the hardship of being alone most of the time. While Americans are known to be busy people, always on the go, and highly independent, Ashoke had to bear the coldness and the loneliness inspite of the modernity it offers. In the real sense of belongingness, families had to bear the pain of being separated with one another when another family member, like the parent, or a sister, as in my case, who works and lives for abroad in search of a greener pasture. Since the United States is known as the land of opportunity, our relatives are compelled to work there and leave behind the good old tradition they have grown for many years in our motherland and reside permanently in a country so foreign to them in all aspects. Cultural Differences Close family ties, religious beliefs, customs and traditions, lifestyle, food, clothing, etc. are things you have to consider to the ever conflicting ideas in the world. The Indian family and its tradition are far different from the American family. For example, in India, they have different faith that could not be intertwined to American faith which is mostly Christian or Protestant (although there is diversity of belief ever since). The difference in faith can be a problem for people like Ashoke’s family whose children have grown up witnessing and adapting to American life. But Gogol was not able to escape the scornful eyes and tongues of his peers echoing in his individuality that he is a native of India, no matter where he was born. Inspite of it, Gogol has found his love interest in Maxine and was soon accepted by her family. Americans are a hugging and kissing people that is contrary to Indian people who were brought up to hide their feelings. Gogol felt awkward for Maxine when she visited him during his father’s wake and the whole Indian community seemed to abhor the way Maxine behaved towards Gogol. What is good about this movie is it doesn’t present bias ideas. The Hindu faith was not in any way criticized by the American society. Since the United States is a liberal country and open to different faith, the film has successfully balanced the view in this aspect. Even if the characters portray as people who have grown up in a different social culture, so distant from where they need to adapt, the movie was successful in conveying America as an open country, no matter what your roots are, that not all people will care about who you really are as long as you cope with the demands of your work. Here, it shows that life is a constant struggle. You have to set aside cultural differences in order to carry out your purpose in life. That is—the very purpose of the major characters is to live and survive in a different country and leave all other things behind unless otherwise if fate would ask them to go back where they came from. This happened when Ashoke Ganguli had a heart attack and received funeral customs in his native homeland. Eventually the loved ones he left finally settled to where they should belong – India. Identity Crisis To save the origin of Gogol’s name, the director created a flashback on Ashoke’s train accident in India, which was almost forgotten. The scene merely explained how Gogol got his name. Of the book authored by the Russian writer Nikolai Gogol, Ashoke was reading it before the accident happened, was still in his hand when the rescuers found him. One would say that flashbacks can be useful, this time, it doesn’t make any sense. It was plainly added to fill the character of Gogol who is confused about his identity—how he got an odd name, why he’s in a different country with set of parents that were not supposed to be there, and why he has to struggle and live according to the norms of the existing society. But the problem mixed up with Gogol and his lonely mother who’d embrace the consequences of following her husband leaving away her dreams of becoming a singer. The way the movie shifts from mother to son seems difficult for the audience to get to the character. As it shows, the movie did not achieve its goal to entirely highlight the character of Gogol and his crisis. However, the movie theme or its actors helped the American audience to discern Bengali culture. But the idea of a pet name or a good name hasn’t had enough exposure where Gogol struggle not with the name but with his cultural roots throughout the film. Moreover, Gogol decided to change his name in order for him to be accepted in the western community. We may recall that Gogol was changed into Nikhil, made into a nickname “Nicky” as suggested by one of his acquaintances. V. Conclusion/Recommendation It is quite impossible to relate with the film if you did not grow up in a family close to each other. Of course, you would not understand the pain of being far from a place surrounded with loved ones and a lifestyle far different from what you presently have. The sudden severance of Ashima to her family is a total deviation from happiness. The messages are clear, properly conveyed, but the movie is not as artistic as it could be. Perhaps, seeing an Indian film is not much as entertaining as English and American films which give more concentration in all aspects of filmmaking like cinematography, musical score, production design, and all that could be related to these. The lame performances of some of its lead roles like Ashima and her daughter Moushumi gives fewer flavors to the movie. It failed to fully establish the character of Moushimi who was born and grew up in New York as the typical liberal worldly teenager yet turned out to be a young professional who became serious with her life. While the Namesake should have been Gogol’s story, Ashok and Ashima’s love story is more prominent and observed throughout. – making the journey more valuable than the destination. If you are looking for a mature drama, this one may fit your choice because it is neither exploitive nor unnatural. Nevertheless, it is still a good film that exhibits its moral lessons very well. Read More