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.
"If it remains engaging for most of its two-hour running time, it's largely thanks to the casting."
— Philip Kemp
"Jhumpa Lahiri's wildly popular novel about two generations of a Bengali family receives a loving, deeply felt screen translation that should appease fans of the book while making many new converts."
— Scott Foundas
The American-born son of Indian immigrants strives to fit in among his fellow New Yorkers despite his family's unwillingness to let go of their traditional ways.
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.
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.
Rest in peace, Irrfan Khan.
Spirit Awards
1 nomination
Nat. Board of Review
1 win
