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Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this mature drama about two generations of a Bengali family living in New York is a great movie to watch with your teens. Like most immigrant narratives, the story includes deaths, births, marriages, break-ups, and other important milestones that mark a family's history. A son's disinterest in his Indian culture -- and his unusual name, Gogol -- is the central theme of the film. Like most immigrant children, he and his sister sometimes ridicule and resent their parents' traditions. The mature subject matter includes arranged marriage, adultery, discrimination, cultural differences, parental deaths, and -- most important -- self-identity. A brief scene shows the victims of a train crash, and there are a few passionate love scenes.
Families can talk about the movie's themes of immigration and identity. If your family is from another country, discuss what makes your cultural heritage distinct. Kids: Do you feel like Gogol and Sonia when it comes to your customs? And if you aren't from another country, what parts of the relationship between parents and kids are universal? Families can also discuss how the media treat other cultures -- and immigrants -- in general. Do some groups get treated differently than others? Why?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Sandie Angulo Chen
Mira Nair's adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri's acclaimed novel The Namesake is a heartfelt depiction of two generations of a Bengali-American family. Nair faithfully and richly translates the much-loved book, which follows Gogol Ganguli, the oddly named son of a professor and his traditional Indian wife.
As Gogol, Kal Penn (who lobbied aggressively for the well-deserved role despite being best known as one half of the stoner duo in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle), perfectly emotes the complexity of being raised in the States by immigrant parents. He's late to his high-school graduation party because he's passing around a joint with his best pals. And after graduating from Yale, he prefers to hang out with his Manhattan-bred (read: "white") girlfriend and her wealthy parents than visit his parents in Westchester.
But a sudden tragedy brings him home, both physically and emotionally. In dealing with his intense grief, Gogol rediscovers the meaning of his name, which is tied not only to the Russian author his father admired but a life-changing event in his father's life. Gogol's reexamination leads him to a new life with a fiercely modern -- but still Bengali -- wife and a deeper appreciation for his parents.
While the titular character is Penn's, the movie's strength lies in Gogol's parents, Ashima and Ashoke, who are played by Indian stars Tabu (a gorgeous actress with glowing skin and telling eyes) and Irfan Khan (a quiet force throughout the film). They're the true immigrants, dealing with the radical cultural shift between their homeland and the United States. The kids grow up mostly American, but the parents must constantly navigate both worlds.
Powerful family films are rare, especially when most cinematic families consist of idiot husbands, their long-suffering wives, and annoyed kids. For once, forego the belly laughs (although the film offers plenty of funny moments) and experience the touching journey that is THE NAMESAKE.
For more epic family sagas, try The Godfather series (well, I and II, anyway), Mi Familia, and, of course, Nair's own Monsoon Wedding.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentPartial nudity -- Gogol and his girlfriend undress in front of each other (his bare chest and her entire backside are visible). In another love scene, Gogol and his girlfriend fool around and are shown in bed, but there's no nudity. Gogol and his wife, both robed, dance Bollywood-style and then tumble onto their bed. Ashoke and Ashima make love semi-clothed. A character discusses her many lovers. |
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ViolenceIt's not "violence" per se, but a scene depicting the aftermath of a deadly train accident includes bloody dead bodies. A character shrieks in grief on two separate occasions. |
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Language"S--t," "ass," etc. |
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Social BehaviorA Bengali man born in the United States learns that the meaning of his name is a path to understanding his parents and his heritage. One episode of discrimination angers Gogol, but his father reminds him to look past the incident. Indian parents praise the United States for providing better opportunities for their children. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoGogol smokes a joint at his high-school graduation and drinks socially on several occasions. A few characters smoke cigarettes. |
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