How is it possible to fit a whole lifetime into a movie? Mira Nair’s The Namesake, an adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s beloved novel, excels in doing so, gliding through the book’s plot with ease, but it’s done in a subtle and straightforward way that makes it feel less complex than it really is. The scenes take peeks into the lives of the Ganguli family, but each scene holds emotional weight, subtly mirroring the past, hinting at important moments relayed from the distance of time (like when Ashoke reveals his reason to leave India) or of space (like when every news is relayed by phone call). The cast holds that weight in their performances, especially in the lovely, if not physically affectionate, marriage between Ashoke and Ashima. All of this makes The Namesake an incredibly touching portrait of an Indian immigrant family.
Synopsis
After moving from Calcutta to New York, members of the Ganguli family maintain a delicate balancing act between honoring the traditions of their native India and blending into American culture. Although parents Ashoke and Ashima are proud of the sacrifices they make to give their children opportunities, their son Gogol strives to forge his own identity without forgetting his heritage.
Storyline
After moving from Calcutta to New York, the Ganguli family forged a life of their own, with parents Ashoke and Ashima proud of the sacrifices they made to give their kids more opportunities. However, American-born Gogol struggles to fit in, striving to forge his own identity in a city so different from his home.
TLDR
Rest in peace, Irrfan Khan.
What stands out
The way the scenes are mirrored, like the way the phone calls are the way Ashima finds out about her losses, or the way Gogol tries to emulate his father with his hair and shoes.
