The Namesake

Davita & I watched this this afternoon. I really enjoyed it, but have the obvious interest / background knowledge of the Indian culture. It's a great book, and the story does well by it.

[alison]

Re: The Namesake

I loved the book, and her other one, too! I'm definitely going to see the movie. Is it really out in video already?

[madeintaiwan]

Re: The Namesake

I was dying to see this movie. I didn't read the book. I really enjoyed the movie.

Re: The Namesake

I loved the book. Actually, volunteered last summer to lead a discussion group with freshmen at Carolina to discuss it. Their takes were quite interesting. And you say it holds true to the book?

ETA: Where does the time go? I meant to write TWO summers ago.

Re: The Namesake

I read the book several years ago so my memory of details is sketchy. They didn't change the story line / actual content at all, if I remember correctly. They left out a lot of the details. They went from their first tiny apartment to Gogol being born Gogol in kindergarten to Gogol graduating high school in about 10 minutes. Part of what I loved about the book is how Ashima gradually adapted, but how the ties to their community remained strong (which is what I see in my IL's).

But I really did enjoy the movie, and there are no "what on earth? that never happened!" moments.

[alison]

Re: The Namesake

I really liked this movie!

I love the scene where the family goes back to India when Gogol is in high school. He walks alongside the carriage and refuses to sit in it because someone else has to pull it.

[migirl]

Re: The Namesake

I loved this movie. I'm first-generation Korean-American, and there were so many parallels in my relationship with my parents and family. DH even thought it was eerie, how the generational and cultural differences were portrayed and how they were so similar to my own experiences.

[alison]

Re: The Namesake

I loved this movie. I'm first-generation Korean-American, and there were so many parallels in my relationship with my parents and family. DH even thought it was eerie, how the generational and cultural differences were portrayed and how they were so similar to my own experiences.

I agree. Although I never felt pressure to marry another Japanese-American. Did you?

[migirl]

Re: The Namesake

I loved this movie. I'm first-generation Korean-American, and there were so many parallels in my relationship with my parents and family. DH even thought it was eerie, how the generational and cultural differences were portrayed and how they were so similar to my own experiences.

I agree. Although I never felt pressure to marry another Japanese-American. Did you?

Oh, yeah ... DH was a bit of a disappointment to my parents. (When I first told them I was dating him, my mother cried and cried and said she regretted ever coming to this country. ) Both my mom and dad love him now, and I guess that paved the way for my brother to marry an "American" girl so it's all good now.

Re: The Namesake

What a familiar song! :P DH's mother wailed "What am I going to tell my friends??" When his cousin was found to be dating a black guy in high school, her parents threatened to pack up and move the whole family back to India.

I think we watched the movie from a similar perspective - and Gogol's bedroom looked almost EXACTLY like dh's did in high school -- all the way down to the paneling. It was kind of creepy.

[alison]

Re: The Namesake

I think we watched the movie from a similar perspective - and Gogol's bedroom looked almost EXACTLY like dh's did in high school -- all the way down to the paneling. It was kind of creepy.

I couldn't get Kumar out of my head for the longest time.

I liked the movie, but to be honest, I don't think it was very well-acted. Aside from maybe the father, the acting was so-so.

I think it's super common that Japanese Americans "marry out." We get tons of flack from other Asian Americans.

[Vishenka69]

Re: The Namesake

I'm glad I read the book first, I think it would have been a bit hard to follow otherwise. I could also relate to the immigrant angle. I remember reading DH some paragraphs where she described the wedding preparations, it was almost word for word what our parents said.

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: The Namesake

The main actor is the same as one of the new docs in House...

A bit of useless trivia...

I did like this movie. I thought it was thought-provoking on several levels. Mac and I thought he should've married the white girl! But then, he was really ignoring his heritage when he was dating her... So that probably wasn't the healthiest of relationships, either. I could empathize with the white girl in different/strange cultural settings, though! I've felt like a fish out of water at some of DH's family's big shindigs, that's for sure! Anyhoo, it's a worthwhile movie!

[alison]

Re: The Namesake

I was thinking about whether or not he should have married Jacinda Barrett's character in the end, but thought that it all sort of resolved itself vis a vis his sister, when she marries a white guy.

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: The Namesake

I don't think it would've been right had he married the white girl. That relationship was based on him totally neglecting his entire family, and just assuming the worst of them. It was painful to watch, though, because I don't think he gave the white girl a real chance to embrace his family and his culture either. And I do think she was open to it...

:huh: